Obama: Democrats get 'clobbered' in midterms

President Obama told Democratic donors last night that since the party tends to lose out in the midterm elections, voter turnout is increasingly important.

"In midterms we get clobbered — either because we don't think it's important, or we've become so discouraged about what's happening in Washington that we think it's not worth our while," Obama said.

The president made the candid remarks at a private fundraising event near Miami, adding that while he thinks Americans agree with his party on many issues, Washington politics have "become so toxic" that it's hurting voter turnout.

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Obama's comments were a pointed reference to the 2010 midterm "shellacking," when Republicans took back control of the House. While Democrats don't believe they can win back the House this time, they hope to maintain their majority in the Senate — though Republicans have a very strong chance of winning control of the upper chamber, too.