Notable women of Ohio politics join Ann Romney in 'Women for Mitt' event in Columbus

Ann Romney speaks at a rally today in support of her husband, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, at the Strongsville Recreation Center in Strongsville, Ohio,

COLUMBUS — Possible future First Lady Ann Romney surrounded herself with notable women in and out of Ohio politics on stage today during a “Women for Mitt'' rally in Columbus. 

On her last day of solo campaigning, Mrs. Romney presented a united front with the likes of Jane Portman, wife of Ohio Sen. Rob Portman; Cindy McCain, wife of Arizona Sen. John McCain; Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor; former Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery; former Ohio Speaker of the House Jo Ann Davidson, and Barbara Nicklaus, wife of golf legend Jack Nicklaus.

The “Women for Mitt'' rally was at least partly designed to counter the Democratic contention that Republicans have been waging a “war on women'' with the targeting of Planned Parenthood, pursuit of a reversal of Roe v. Wade, and GOP nominee Mitt Romney's much-ridiculed debate comment referring to “binders'' of women considered for posts in Massachusetts when he was governor.

“Women are coming up to me and saying, ‘Please help’,” Mrs. Romney said. “Women have been coming to me saying, ‘We’re hurting.’ There’s a woman I just met in Des Moines that grabbed me — she’s been volunteering with her daughters — and she said she’s been out of work for a year and a half.

“She’s been giving blood to put food on the table for her children,’’ she said. “These are the things you cannot forget. These are the voices you cannot get out of your head. The only thing I can tell them is that help is on the way.”

Today marked Mrs. Romney's second day concentrating on Ohio while her husband concentrated on Florida and Virginia. The “girls bus’’ also planned a rally in Strongsville near Cleveland with quick side stops in Heath and Wadsworth.

Obama spokesman Jessica Kershaw said Ohioans are worthy of a President who will give them more than what Mr. Romney has promised.

"Ohioans know that President Obama stands on their side when it comes to the things that matter—keeping good-paying jobs in the U.S., protecting education investments and strengthening Medicare for future generations,’’ said Obama spokesman Jessica Kershaw. “Mitt Romney on the other hand would give tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of the middle class, force students to shop around for an affordable education, and turn Medicare into a voucher program. That's not the kind of President Ohioans deserve.”

Contact Jim Provance at: jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.