Ann Romney Tells Marquette Crowd Her Husband Will Stand for Women

Ann Romney told a crowd of supporters Thursday in Milwaukee that her husband is steadfast on protecting the economic and social interests of women.

Introduced by Wisconsin's First Lady Tonette Walker, Romney, flanked by an American flag and a banner that read "Wisconsin (hearts) Ann," roused a crowd of more than 200 supporters – most of whom were women – in the old gym on the Marquette University campus.

"He cares about women ... making the economy work for women," said the wife of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. "We need to have women understand Mitt is a person who cares."

He's "a person who will work harder than anyone, who will be there, and ... will not fail," she said.

Romney also introduced a number of women who served under her husband when he was governor of Massachusetts, pointing out that he is willing to give women key roles in his administration.

She also recounted for the crowd a time when her husband became close to a friend's son who was dying of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Ann Romney was in town the day after a new Marquette Law School poll showed her husband trailing President Barack Obama in the state by 14 percentage points among likely voters.

A poll by Qunnipiac University, the New York Times and CBS News showed the president leading Mitt Romney by 6 percentage points among likely Wisconsin voters.

The Romney campaign has struggled to connect with women, with a recent Pew poll showing Obama leading by 19 points among women. Another poll, YouGov, showed a narrowed margin, with Obama leading women by 6 points.

Before she took the stage, a number of female political leaders from around the state spoke. Republican state Sen. Leah Vukmir took exception to the "war on women" that Romney and conservatives have been accused of waging.

"What I see is an army of women," Vukmir said as she looked out into the crowd. "Our rights come from God and nature, and not from government."

"This election will be a referendum on our future," said Republican state Sen. Alberta Darling, who shouted "Forward," borrowing Obama's campaign slogan.