Republicans, including Ann Romney, are expressing outrage at Democratic gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen's drop of the "W-bomb" in reference to Gov. Nikki Haley, saying there is a double standard in the media.

"It's so upsetting when you know someone can say something like that about a woman, and not have any kind of reaction. It's so unacceptable," Romney, wife of former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, said in an interview with CNN.

Her comment came as Republicans are also using Sheheen's verbal error in a fundraising appeal, asking donors to give at amounts beginning at $25 on up.

During a campaign appearance in Florence last week Sheheen used the offensive term as he mashed his words. He later apologized. A video taken at the time shows Sheheen saying "We are going to escort whore out the door."

He quickly corrected himself to say "We're going to escort her out the door." Sheheen shows a grin of embarrassment as well, as the crowd reacts in laughter.

Republicans on Tuesday said the slur was on par with Democrats declaring war on women.

"I'm not going to repeat what Vincent Sheheen said about Governor Nikki Haley," the GOP message from state party Chairman Matt Moore said. "It's a disgusting thing to say about any woman. And you can bet if a Republican said anything like what Vincent Sheheen said, the liberal mainstream media would issue breaking news alerts and cover it endlessly. Instead, it's just silence."

Romney added "You get so sick of saying there is bias out there, but if a Republican had said this, it would be blowing up in their face like nobody's business."

The GOP appeal for money asks that if the reader of the email agrees "please consider contributing to our Rapid Response Fund."

Haley was a visible Romney backer during the 2012 GOP primary race in South Carolina.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551.