I think they mean “he didn’t run for cover like Republicans are supposed to when she went after him with the gender card. He attacked her back with on the same lines and we don’t know how to respond to that since it’s never happened before.”
He didn’t make gender a big issue until she did. Then she dropped it and so did he. If she brings it up again, he’ll hammer her with it again.
And if she brings up the wall, he'll make it ten feet higher! LOL!