WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is increasing his support among women, and Republicans appear to deserve some of the credit.

Polls show Obama's standing among female voters is strengthening as the economy improves and as social issues, including birth control, have generated political headlines.

One older GOP-leaning independent in Mississippi says "contraception talk" by Republicans is "a stupid thing."

Republicans say the economy will again overtake discussion when a GOP nominee redirects his fire to the president and takes up issues such as the deficit and gas prices.

That will be a tall task among women voters. An Associated Press-GfK poll suggests women are giving the president more credit than men are for the country's economic turnaround. Among women, his approval ratings on handling the economy and unemployment have jumped by 10 percentage points to 53 percent since December.

Women make up a majority of voters in presidential elections, and a bit more of them identify with Democrats. Obama topped Republican John McCain among female voters in 2008.