If Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) has his legislative way, a slew of top government officials ? congress members, high-ranking executive branch and military members, ambassadors and CIA foreign station chiefs, among them ? would face 10-year bans on lobbying for a foreign government.

As Democrats pummel them on the Violence Against Women Act, contraception and other gender issues, Republicans are desperately searching for a response, POLITICO's Manu Raju reports: "Republicans on the Hill have a short roster of female lawmakers with national profiles and who can serve as campaign surrogates for Mitt Romney, like Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. And they're now grappling for ways to overcome a gender gap that could imperil their chances in the fall elections."