McCarthy pointed to the three "first-generation" Republican candidates running now in California in "tough races" as progress for the party, but he differed with Boehner's analysis about widening the base. The No. 3 Republican in the House put the onus on Obama, claiming he is exploiting women and minorities for political gain.
"He's looking at three gaps: women, Hispanic and youth. Instead of good policy, it's on politics. He tries to claim everything is a war on women because 53 percent of the electorate in a presidential race happens to be women," McCarthy said.
The Romney campaign's push for female voters starts tonight with Romney's wife, Ann, and her speech to the convention hall here, which will focus on unity, according to excepts released by his campaign.
"I want to talk not about what divides us, but what holds us together as an American family," Romney is slated to say. "I want to talk to you tonight about that one great thing that unites us, that one thing that brings us our greatest joy when times are good, and the deepest solace in our dark hours. Tonight I want to talk to you about love."
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra and Rep. Joseph Crowley, vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, address a news conference immediately after the closed caucus meeting.
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