Nancy Pelosi’s ascendancy to Speaker means the Democratic Party’s public face in the House is a woman.

What about the Republicans?

Two women are running for House Republican leadership posts – Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn, a candidate for House GOP Conference Chair.  And Kay Granger of Texas, running for conference vice chair.

Blackburn just completed a conference call with bloggers, organized by Truth Laid Bear.  Asked about the gender gap, Blackburn responded by “speaking as a mom with two grown children.”  She said,  “It is the job of our party to show that first of all we are going to listen” to such issues as “the burden of taxes, cost of health care, cost of child care,” and security. Blackburn noted that ”female owned small businesses” is the fastest growing part of economy.

And she said, “Our party will do well to have women as a our public spokespeople. … We must communicate with good, solid” female communicators.

The gender fight won’t be against Pelosi alone.  Twice on the call Blackburn decried Hillary Clinton’s most famous issue: “”I don’t think the American people want Hillary health care” and noted that as a Tennessee state Senator, she “led the fight against Hillary care.”

The gender gap is notable one other way — there was only one female blogger on the phone call.