Obama's Declining Support Among Women Hobbling Battleground Dems

President Barack Obama's approval ratings have dropped sharply among female voters since he defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney in 2012, causing real problems among Democrats attempting to seize Senate seats in next month's midterm elections, especially in the nation's battleground states.

According to polls and Democratic strategists, Obama's declining popularity is making it difficult to attract female votes in states where Democrats are already being rejected by men in most key Senate races, reports Politico.

Men are backing Republicans by double digits, according to polls, and to overcome that, Democrats will need to turn out female voters in states such as Colorado, Iowa, Alaska, North, Carolina, and New Hampshire.

Obama lost in Alaska in both his 2008 and 2012 election, and now, only 29 percent of female voters are giving him a positive vote. That rating may make it even more difficult for Democratic Sen. Mark Begich to defend his seat against Republican challenger Dan Sullivan, who women said they preferred in a recent CNN/ORC poll

As a result, Begich has been slamming Sullivan's anti-abortion stance, his views on birth control, and his opposition to the Violence against Women Act, and says voters will see "a clear contrast" when the two meet for six more debates between now and Nov. 4.

"I think people are disappointed with the president and frustrated," Begich said. "I’m making sure people understand that if you are mad at Obama, he will be gone in two. If you care about Alaska, I’m here for six. When I tell people that, I remind them, they get it."

Meanwhile, in Colorado, Democratic Sen. Mark Udall is trailing his challenger, Republican Rep. Cory Gardner by 19 points among men and 9 points among women, and many Democrats believe Udall will need to attract women back to the fold to take the race.

However, more than 60 percent of the state's white female voters disapprove of Obama, along with 56 percent of women who are not white. But just two years ago, Obama was ahead of Romney by 51 to 49 percent among female voters, reports Politico.

Like Begich, Udall has turned his focus on Gardner's anti-abortion stance, hoping to turn suburban women and independent female voters against him.

Udall will spend one day of his upcoming bus tour through two dozen towns featuring several prominent women, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richard and Udall's wife, among others, to speak in visits to Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins. And on one of the days, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a popular draw among both sexes, will campaign with Udall in Denver.

Obama's declining popularity among women may also benefit Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, where he is campaigning against Democrat candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes. He is running ahead with men and about even with women, polls show.

Meanwhile, in Iowa, Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley is up by 13 points with women, but state Sen. Joni Ernst holds 18 points with men. But Obama's support is rapidly dropping among women. According to a recent Des Moines Register poll, 53 percent of women have an unfavorable opinion of Obama, although he took 59 percent of the 2012 female vote. in 2012.

"He’s not doing as badly [with women] as he is among men, but it’s hardly anything to write home about," said GOP pollster Whit Ayres. "Which is why many of these Democratic candidates are still struggling."

Related stories:

• Poll: Women, Young Turning Against Obama
• Karl Rove: How Obama Might Salvage His Presidency