HispanicBusiness

The Obama campaign, in a major effort to galvanize female voters, will launch a series of interactive summit meetings in key swing states this summer.

The Women Vote 2012 Summits will allow women "to hear directly from senior campaign officials and leaders about issues that are important to them and the different visions that President Obama and Mitt Romney have for women and their families," the campaign said in a statement.

The campaign panel features Valerie Jarrett, a Democratic strategist appearing in a personal capacity; Kate Chapek, the national women's vote director for the campaign; and actress Eva Longoria. Issues on the summit agendas will include paycheck fairness, health care (including birth control), abortion rights and education.

The voter summits are part of the Obama campaign's Operation Vote program, which works to boost turnout among what the campaign calls "our core demographic groups."

The first event is July 1 in Denver. Colorado is one of several states where the women's vote could be decisive. Summits are planned in other key states as well, including Pennsylvania (with an event in Philadelphia), Florida (Miami) and Nevada (Las Vegas).

Polls give Obama an edge among female voters, who make up more than half the electorate.

Chapek says Obama "has proven he's a strong advocate for women and their families" and presents a contrast to GOP rival Romney.

Romney and his aides have made the overall economy their major campaign theme and say that Obama's stewardship hurts women as well as men.