Obama Explains Why Democrats Get 'Clobbered' During Midterm Elections

President Barack Obama admitted Thursday that Democrats' struggles with weak turnout in midterm elections are a hurdle the party is "going to have to get over."

Appearing at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dinner in Miami, Obama said he believes the stupor is caused by politics in Washington becoming "so toxic." The president added that overcoming this should be a "top priority."

“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 at the event.

Obama's remarks come on the heels of a February report showing Democrats maintaining a record fundraising pace ahead of the 2014 elections. The DCCC raised $6.4 million in February, boosting its election cycle total to $89 million. That marks the most money raised at this point in history.

Democrats would need to claim 17 House seats in November to reclaim a majority, while losing no more than five Senate seats to maintain control in that chamber of Congress.