The Democratic Party is waging a battle . They want to take back the House in the 2014 midterms and maintain their majority in the Senate . And one political front is with women . In recent years the Democratic Party has enjoyed a political advantage with women as more of them have voted for Democrats . The Republican Party admits errors leading to success of female Democrats . For instance , in the last election , Republican candidates , including Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin , marginalized women by espousing controversial opinions on rape and abortion . The situation was so crippling that Republican leaders conducted an `` autopsy '' after the 2012 election to evaluate the party 's shortcomings . The image of the white man is something the Republican Party is having trouble breaking . Voters were reminded of the patrician perception just a couple of weeks ago during the government shutdown when House Republican leaders let the press in a meeting to take pictures as they worked . At the long table sat eight men in their shirtsleeves . Not one woman was present . Those examples of images and statements make a difference at the voting booth . Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney 's nine-point loss among women to President Barack Obama . Additionally , of the 81 women members of Congress , only 19 are Republican . The story is similar in the Senate . But the Democrats are n't taking any chances . They do n't want to lose their electoral advantage . Last year , they attacked the Republicans ' anti-choice , anti-Obamacare and anti-higher minimum wage policies as a `` war on women . '' This year they are launching a war with women . Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida , who chairs the Democratic National Committee , on Friday unveiled the Democratic Women 's Alliance , a new initiative to `` target , motivate and mobilize women '' to vote and run for office . And they are throwing money , resources and staff at the effort . They will conduct polls and gather data directed at women voters , find the forgotten women voters and train women to become involved or run for office . It was rolled out at the 20th anniversary of the DNC 's Women 's Leadership Forum where House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke as did Cecile Richards , president of Planned Parenthood . Republicans are `` trying to reach out to women , '' Wasserman Schultz said in a hotel ballroom full of women activists . `` Is n't that adorable ? '' she smirked . `` Outreach is inserting themselves into the most private decisions women make , '' she added . Wasserman Schultz 's entire message was n't about beating the Republicans . She said that when women sit at the table , they bring solutions . `` We understand the role of compromise . When we 're at the table , government is more responsible , '' Wasserman Schultz told the audience , referring to the latest gridlock in Washington that partially shut down the government . `` Even with Sarah Palin involved , we could 've struck an agreement , '' the Florida congresswoman said . The return of Sarah Palin . Her goals , however , are still specific : Enroll more women into the Democratic Party . Republicans admit that they have some work to do . `` We hurt ourselves , '' Republican National Committee spokes woman Kirsten Kukowski told CNN . `` But we need to start fighting back on that narrative , '' she added . The RNC has recently launched some of its own initiatives focused on women . One of those programs is Blackboard to Blacktop , an education program to enhance women 's role in the party . In addition , Kurkowski said they must do a better job of pushing back against damaging rhetoric by their candidates . `` All of us need to do a better job , '' she said . `` We 're being much more conscious of it and tackling it every single day , '' she added .
The Democratic Party is launching a new initiative to attract women . The goal is to widen the advantage the Democrats have with women voters . The Republican Party knows it has work to do and has launched its own efforts .