But his standing with female voters is strengthening, polls show, as the economy improves and social issues, including birth control, become a bigger part of the nation's political discourse.
An Associated Press-GfK poll suggests women also are giving the president more credit than men are for the country's economic turnaround.
Republicans would need to win a sizable share more than about 40 percent of female voters to beat him.
"To hear their right to contraception questioned in 2012 is shocking, and it's gotten a lot of people's attention."
Women also are the reason behind Obama's lead over Republican hopefuls Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum: In one-on-one matchups, Obama beats Romney 54 percent to 41 percent and tops Santorum 56 percent to 40 percent among women, but virtually ties each Republican among men.
There will be more of that this week. Senate Democrats have agreed to debate a measure by Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri that would allow health plans to deny coverage for any service that violates the sponsor's beliefs.
Sounds like the Republicans have their work cut out for them. LOL