In recent elections the most important thing has been differences in turnout on either side. Most voters that stay home are ones that labels themselves "Independent", and these Independents are for the most part not the "moderate" of Centrist DLC mythology and propaganda, but are Progressives disillusioned with the Democratic party establishment, on one hand, and Libertarians and nutty populistic bigots disillusioned with the GOP establishment on the other.

This creates an ILLUSION that there is a big group of "Independent Moderate Voters" that flip-flop from party to party, but in fact it's really differences in turnout between Left-Wing and Right-Wing Independents. This is why we were whipped so badly in 2010, left-wing independents were disillusioned with the corporatists in control of the Democratic Party and stayed hone, while the right-wing independents were whipped up into an hysterical froth.

This is why those blasting the "professional Left" or whatever the latest term of abuse are the real ones hurting us at the polls, they are the REAL REASON WE LOST IN 2010. The more hate the Establishment spew at Progressives the more Progressive Independents will stay home.