FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
[Revised and updated] 

Women may very well hold the key to the next election - and at least for now, President Obama is in the driver's seat.

In a dozen crucial swing states, the president holds a whopping 18-point lead among women over Mitt Romney. And Democrats are using every chance they can to accuse the GOP of waging a "war on women."

President Obama hosted a forum on women's issues at the White House - touting his administration's achievements on equal pay and workplace flexibility, saying "Women are not an interest group. You shouldn't be treated that way."

Republicans have traditionally faced a gender gap when it comes to women voters, but it looks like Romney faces a particularly steep uphill battle.

The Obama campaign says Romney's promise to "end planned parenthood" and his stance on contraception in employer health care plans will hurt him in the general election.

Some say Romney missed a golden opportunity to sway women voters by not taking a stand when Rush Limbaugh called a Georgetown law student a "slut" for her position on birth control.

Republicans insist the gender gap will disappear once the contentious GOP Primary ends. one of the ways Romney might have eased the gender gap was by naming a woman as his running mate. (another missed opportunity)

Here’s my question to you: How can Mitt Romney overcome his huge deficit among women?

Visit the Cafferty File;