Axelrod says Colorado results show Obama voters will show up for midterms

Sen. Michael Bennet's win in Tuesday night's Democratic Colorado primary is proof that supporters of President Obama will show up for the midterms, according to David Axelrod.

Axelrod, in an e-mail to The Hill, said that Bennet's win over Andrew Romanoff "reflected our ability to rally 2008 Obama voters to participate in an off-year election — something that will be meaningful this fall."

So-called Obama voters have been the subject of speculation surrounding November's midterms, as Republicans enjoy a wide enthusiasm gap in most polls.

Organizing for America, Obama's political arm at the Democratic National Committee, said Wednesday that it "successfully road-tested its Vote 2010 get out the vote effort" by working on the Obama-backed Bennet's behalf.

While Tuesday's election results were the best the White House has seen this year, Republicans were still claiming a sense of momentum on Wednesday.

But Axelrod said that predictions of a "wave" election are wrong, saying this will not be "a formulaic year."

"And yesterday reflected that," Axelrod said. "These will be decided on a race-by-race basis, depending on the candidates and campaigns, and not some wave."

Axlerod also said that the Democratic Party has been "strengthened by a number of matchups that have emerged from the party."