2012 Decoded

For all the recent talk about contraception, Planned Parenthood, country club memberships and even caterpillars, President Obama centered his pitch to women Friday on the one thing that may make the biggest difference in their voting decisions this year -- the economy. It is why he summoned women to the White House and why he called the gathering the White House Forum on Women and the Economy.

Other issues got mentions, including violence against women, health reform, and -- drawing laughs -- his confession that "we haven't gotten on the dry cleaning thing yet," an acknowledgement of the leading pet peeve of many women who object to paying more to clean their clothes than men pay for theirs. But this was a day for what Bill Clinton used to boast was a "laser focus" on jobs and the economy. "Right now," said the president, "no issue is more important than restoring economic security for our families in the wake of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression."