Washington ( CNN ) -- Democrats were making an election-year pitch to women on Friday , mindful of their past advantage among the voting bloc and hoping to convince enough women to cast ballots for their candidates in November 's mid-term contests . Without strong turnout and support from women , Democrats stand little chance of keeping control of the Senate -- the party 's top priority this year . The biggest draw at the Democrats ' Women 's Leadership Forum in Washington was Hillary Clinton , their leading 2016 potential presidential contender and , in the minds of some Democrats , a potential boost to mid-term candidates . President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden also were on the event 's roster . `` We have fought for families , for moms and dads and kids and the values that hold us all together , '' Clinton said during her midday speech , which was warmly received by the room of party activists . Women have provided Democrats a boost in recent elections , including in 2012 , when 55 % voted for Obama in that year 's presidential contest . But as Obama 's poll numbers have slid , so , too , has his support among women . The most recent CNN survey of Obama 's popularity showed 55 % of women disapproved of how Obama is handling his job -- the same percentage that voted for him in 2012 . That disapproval rate was on par with the figure for men . On pressing issues including terrorism , the economy and Ukraine , more women than men disapprove of how Obama 's doing his job . Those figures worry Democrats , whose prospects in this year 's contests are closely pinned to voters ' perception of Obama . Those anxieties have led to scant invites for Obama on the campaign trail . Less worrisome in the mind of some party operatives is Clinton , who 's been enlisted to stump for candidates in several states ahead of the November 4 vote . On Friday , she said the congressional and gubernatorial contests were just as important as the higher-profile presidential race she 's currently considering . `` I know they might not be as glamorous as presidential elections , '' Clinton said of midterms , but they 're nonetheless `` crucial for our country 's future . '' Listing candidates such as gubernatorial hopefuls Mary Burke ( Wisconsin ) and Wendy Davis ( Texas ) , Clinton said women candidates `` give me hope '' for the future of keeping issues like pay equity and the minimum wage at the fore . `` We have fought for families , for moms and dads and kids and the values that hold us all together , '' she said . `` So do n't let anyone dismiss what you 're doing here today as women 's work . Do n't let anyone send you back to the sidelines . '' Earlier , Biden touted his own record advocating for stricter laws to punish violence against women , and claimed modern-day Republicans were n't upholding their party 's history . `` It was n't Democrats involved . Republicans were the sponsors of raises in the minimum wage . I could go on and on . So I 'm not joking . This is not your father 's Republican Party , '' he said . Republicans countered by claiming Democrats were only interested in `` pointing fingers . '' `` Every day we are talking to women about the issues we all care about -- empowering women at work and at home , creating good paying jobs , building the economy , increasing workplace flexibility , addressing workplace discrimination and modernizing job training , '' said GOP spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski .
Top Democrats speak at Women 's Leadership Forum . Polls indicate women are critical of Obama 's performance . Score: 6