President Barack Obama is telling female supporters that the election-year fight over contraception access has been, in his words, "like being in a time machine."

Speaking Friday at conference focused on women's issues, Obama said the days of male politicians controlling women's health care decisions must come to an end.

Obama says that Republican efforts to meddle in women's health issues are "appalling, offensive and out of touch."

Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney are both targeting female voters, who could hold the key to electoral success. Polls show Obama with a sizeable lead over Romney with women.

The National Issues Conference is a two-day fundraising event organized by Obama backers to draw attention to administration policies aimed at women. Most tickets for the 600-person conference cost $1,000.