Obama campaign aggressively courts women voters

>>> now to presidential politics . president obama campaigned in colorado today, a state where a new poll shows him trailing mitt romney , but he's trying to make up some ground at hitting what has been a romney weak spot and that's authority among women . a report from nbc 's andrea michelle.

>> reporter: at a denver rally today the president was surrounded by his most reliable support group , women voters and taking direct aim at mitt romney .

>> they want to take us back to the policies more suited to the 1950s than the 21st century .

>> reporter: playing a starring role for the first time on the campaign, the former law student who became a lightning rod after rush limbaugh denounced her for supporting contraception rights.

>> miss fluke and the rest of your feminine nazis, here is the deal.

>> for me it's intensely personal.

>> reporter: women , single women supported the president overwhelmingly in 2008 . an nbc " wall street journal " poll, they favor him by 25 points, nearly three times the advantage he has with married women . but the economy hit young single women hard. the obama campaign worries they may stay home this year. it's flooding them with messages, social media , appearances.

>> they are a critical group of voters both campaigns see as a battleground, far beyond any individual state.

>> the target, undecided young women , like this woman who voted for john mccain but now leaning toward obama.

>> i'm looking for a candidate that supports my views in my reproductive health .

>> mitt romney who campaigned in iowa today is targeting older married women where he's more competitive. today announcing women for mitt, headed by ann.

>> this is what i hear women talking about. they are talking about jobs, talking about the economy.

>> they blame rick santorum 's position for the gender gap , a gap they are trying to overcome. andrea michelle, nbc news, washington.