… Democrats have a turnout problem because they have a motivation problem. In 2010, their biggest problem was that they ran into an energized Republican electorate. The rise of the tea party and hostility to Obama’s health-care law brought Republicans to the polls while Democrats stayed home. Obama’s vaunted political operation seemed powerless in the face of that aroused opposition.
What Democrats learned in 2010 was that Obama’s personal appeal was not transferrable to Democrats running for the House or Senate. … There is a companion problem confronting Democrats this year, which is dissatisfaction in their ranks. Obama has disappointed many of his own followers, and his overall approval ratings are low enough to give Democrats real concern. The lack of enthusiasm for the president among members of his own party can easily lead to demoralization and too many stay-at-home voters in November. CONT.
Dan Balz, Washington Post