How One Vulnerable Republican Responds to the 'War on Women'

By Abby Livingston Posted at 5 a.m. today

Southerland is one of the House GOP's most vulnerable incumbents this November. (Abby Livingston/CQ Roll Call)

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. It took Republican Rep. Cynthia Lummis 16 hours to travel from western Wyoming last Friday to the Florida Panhandle to campaign for her embattled colleague, Rep. Steve Southerland II.

Like other women in her conference, she is spending this pre-election recess fanning out over the country to help House Republicans in competitive races, especially men struggling through what Democrats have deemed the GOPs War on Women.

I spent the entire day a long day traveling, and it means a lot to me to be here for Steve, because I want to serve with him, she said in a interview last week, surrounded by veterans at a small gathering before a Women for Southerland rally.

Southerland facesa fierce re-election fightagainst Democrat Gwen Graham, an attorney and Florida political scion, in the 2nd District, a region that includes Tallahassee and stretches to the Gulf of Mexico coastline.

Southerland, in particular, has struggled with female voters.Earlier this year, his supporters hosted amale-only fundraiserwith an invitation that read, tell the Misses not to wait up.Southerland responded to news reports on the event by comparing the event to alingerie shower.

Thats in part how, on Sept. 27, a handful of female Republican officeholders descended upon Panama City Beach.Besides Lummis, Rep. Martha Roby drove that morning from her home in Montgomery, Ala., with her young daughter to attend the rally. Former Arkansas First Lady Janet Huckabee was also in attendance.

Pink is the events color of choice, filling signs and attire. Dozens of women sport pink Southerland campaign shirts as the congressmans family and campaign staff pass out pink Women for Southerland bumper stickers.

This is what a GOP counteroffensive on gender looks like.

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How One Vulnerable Republican Responds to the 'War on Women'

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