I expect the Democrats to catch on to the whole "midterm turnout" thing sooner or later.
The whole midterm thing is a myth. And it is based on a preposterous notion, that Dem voters are somehow less civically minded. Ok if that is what the left thinks of their own voters. How about 2006? Their voters didnt turn because they didnt approve of their own party. Also in some state like GA they did turn out in the same proportion as in 2012. It is just everyone turned out less in a midterm.
Look at GOP Senators who run is midterms versus Presidential elections year. They get more votes in the Presidential election year as well.
It's more the reality of the Democrats being dependent on working class, poor, and non-white voters.
These demographics tend to have less formal education and lower incomes than the American population as a whole - factors which are strongly correlated with lower turnout. They also have less time to pay attention to politics. And they feel (with considerable justification) that neither party really cares about them.
Also keep in mind that presidential elections draw much more media coverage, which filters into everyday conversations. And Americans in general certainly know and care more about who the President is then who controls Congress (or even who their own representatives in Congress are - let alone, all the other Representatives and Senators). The vast majority of Americans aren't political nerds like the members of this forum are.
