Romney backers, protesters gather

WLUK TV

Updated: Aug 17, 2012 5:49 PM

GRAND CHUTE — A group of Wisconsin women has launched a statewide coalition in support of Romney.

The Wisconsin Women for Mitt coalition rolled into the Fox Valley Friday.

Organizers said the Republicans will strengthen the middle class and get the economy on the right track.

"There are almost six million people who are unemployed, 400,000 women plus have lost their jobs under President Obama," said State Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills).

"We are women banded together who believe in what Ryan-Romney can do to resurrect the economy because, at the end of the day, we need this economy to be cured of the illness it's had since 2008," said Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (R-Wisconsin).

More than a dozen protesters stood across the street voicing their concerns.

One entered the Republican event. First she spoke out, then when confronted, she spat in another woman's face.

The woman was escorted outside, where she said she was assaulted and had a scratch on her face.

Paramedics responded and took her away in an ambulance.

Click here to see extended video of the scuffle

The confrontation is a sidelight to the main issue of which presidential campaign will attract Wisconsin's female vote.

"The record is very clear that the Romney-Ryan ticket has a long history of assaulting rights of women. And 50% of the people in our country do not have the ability to earn a living and take care of their families," said Nancy Nusbaum with the Obama campaign.

How does each candidate stack up with women voters in the Badger State?

Quinnipiac University, The New York Times and CBS conducted a poll released last week.

It shows Obama leads Romney 59 to 36 percent. Romney leads among men 53 to 43 percent.

Political science experts say women voters across the nation and right here in Wisconsin could swing the presidential election.

"Women are just over 50 percent of the population so we outnumber men. Second of all the turnout rates for women are actually higher than they are for men," said St. Norbert College political science professor Wendy Scattergood .

Scattergood adds since World War II, women have traditionally voted more Democratic.

"And they still do by quite a lot, the gender gap, meaning the difference in how much more women for Democrats and Republicans has decreased since the 1980s , but it's held steady since about 2000," Scattergood said.

Voters will decide which candidate will best lead the country when they head to the polls November 6th .

The bus tour also made stops in Fond du Lac, Mosinee and Grafton Friday.

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