SALENA ZITO: Dem’s comment ignites ‘mommy wars.’

As the White House scrambled on Thursday to prevent “mommy wars” damage by a Democratic adviser, one expert cautioned that politicians need to learn to communicate with female voters, who factor strongly in this presidential election.

“Most of the attention paid to them has been superficial rather than substantive,” Catherine Wilson, a Villanova University professor specializing in how women affect politics, said as Twitter chatter carried on the argument of whether a stay-at-home mother works as hard as a career woman.

Since 1980, more women have voted in presidential elections than men, said Sara Grove, another expert on women voters at Shippensburg University.

Democratic leaders backed away from consultant Hilary Rosen for disparaging Ann Romney, wife of presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, in a CNN interview as someone who “actually never worked a day in her life.” Bowing to pressure midday, Rosen issued a statement of apology acknowledging “poorly chosen” words.

President Obama told an Iowa television station that families are off limits in campaigns.

Tell it to the people who covered Sarah Palin, some of whom have been invited to dinner with Obama.