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Hoping to replicate the success their party had in the 2012 elections, Senate Democrats on Wednesday unveiled a legislative agenda designed both to boost the middle class and to boost Democratic turnout in the midterms.

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says Democrats will concentrate on the minimum wage, pay equity for women, expanding health insurance,...

The focus on personal finance issues is the next iteration of the Democrats' 2012 campaign pitch, in which President Obama and his party promised to level the economic playing field. It's a pitch that Democrats say should be just as effective this year, even as Republicans continue to hammer Democrats over the Affordable Care Act.

"We picked up seats in the Senate, we carried the presidency by a large amount" in 2012, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. "The American people, the majority aren't affected by Obamacare. They want to hear what we're going to do for them -- just go back and look at the 2012 election."

The circumstances, however, have changed this year. Now that the major elements of the Affordable Care Act are all in place, Republicans have an actual program to criticize. The new Obamacare marketplaces have faced multiple setbacks since open enrollment began in October, including the disastrous rollout of HealthCare.gov.

A CBS News poll released this week shows the nation remains split over the health care law, with a small majority opposed to it. That has been the case for some time, but the poll had more bad news for Democrats -- as many as 70 percent of Republican voters said they are already enthusiastic about voting in November (including 27 percent who are very enthusiastic). By comparison, 58 percent of Democrats said they are enthusiastic about voting. Additionally, 81 percent of Republicans say they're definitely going to vote in November, versus 68 percent of Democrats.

The CBS News poll also shows that more Republicans than Democrats consider this election a chance to vote for or against Mr. Obama. The Senate Democrats, however, plan to time their votes on issues like the minimum wage to coincide with Mr. Obama's campaign-style trips across the country.

Republicans have dismissed the votes as little more than a dog and pony show.

"They plan yet another year, one more year of turning the Senate floor into a campaign studio," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor Wednesday, reducing his Democratic colleagues to "political show boats."

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Democrats lay out plan to put GOP on the spot with middle class issues

California Democrats should have had a good 2014: The economys on the mend and the states budget woes have become far less acute. Yet the first three months of the year have not been kind to the states Democrats. State Senator Leland Yee was arrested Wednesday on corruption charges, which allege (PDF) that Yee was involved in a conspiracy to traffic weapons and wire fraud. That followed last months indictment of another state senator, Ron Calderon, for allegedly accepting $100,000 in bribes. And in January, State Senator Rod Wright was found guilty of eight felony charges related to election and voting fraud. Assuming Yee goes on leave (as Calderon and Wright have done) instead of stepping down, Democrats will have just 25 voting members in the Senatetwo seats short of the 27 they need for a supermajority.

In California, a supermajority is required to raise taxes or amend the constitution. If the accused senators resign, Governor Jerry Brown could call special elections to fill their seatsand given the composition of their districts, Democrats would surely be elected. But they havent stepped aside. Calderon, who pleaded not guilty and is fighting his charges, and Wright, who is appealing his conviction, are both on paid leave. Yee hasnt publicly responded to the charges against him.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that measures including proposals for a new oil-extraction tax and ballot propositions to repeal a ban on affirmative action and restrict politicians campaign fundraising are at risk if Democrats dont have 27 seats. The loss of a supermajority would also trip up Browns proposed amendment to put surplus tax revenue into a rainy day fund. Getting that amendment passed was already going to be tough, as many Democrats want to use that money to restore previous cuts to government services. Without a supermajority, Brown would need Republicans to cooperate, which is unlikely. The rainy day fund was a big part of why the ratings firm Standard & Poors in January raised the states fiscal outlook from stable to positive, saying it would provide a more stable future for the state.

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California Democrats' Corruption Charges Are Making Brown's Job Hard

(CNN) - Democrats in jeopardy of losing control of the Senate this year unveiled a 2014 agenda on Wednesday filled with carefully crafted language and messaging aimed at middle class voters they believe will decide many key races.

Dubbing it a "Fair Shot for Everyone," and using the words "fair" or "fairness" in as many sentences as they could, Senate Democratic leaders announced they will focus on issues like raising the minimum wage, making college and child care more affordable, and closing tax loopholes that encourage companies to hire overseas.

They will use their power as the majority party to set the Senate agenda and bring up about a bill a week through the August recess, when senators up for re-election will go home for a month of full-time campaigning.

Democrats hold a 55-45 majority in the Senate (53 Democrats and two Independents who caucus with the party), but are defending 21 of the 36 seats up in November.

Most Democrats argue trying to reframe the debate by tapping into middle class frustration is the best way to fend off GOP challengers this year, many of whom will be focused on hitting Democrats on Obamacare. This agenda gives Democrats tangible legislation for debate, voting and campaigning.

Democratic strategists are banking on the fact that public anger about Obamacare isn't so much about the health care law itself, but rather an outlet for voters exasperated with a system that makes it hard to get ahead, especially middle class voters.

"I do not think ACA (Affordable Care Act) will be the number one issue. For many people, it's a surrogate. They're upset with everything that's happening, they hear all these ads, and think 'Oh it's Obamacare' but they know it isn't," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, who helped come up with this agenda.

"Most Americans want to hear something positive. 'What are you going to do for me?' Republicans are going to give them no answers on that," said Schumer.

While Schumer and other Democrats argue that national polls do not put Obamacare high on voters' priority list, Democrats also concede they must not run from attacks on the health care law as they have done in the past. In fact, many endangered Democrats are adopting the "fix it, don't end it" approach on the campaign trail.

At their news conference announcing their agenda, Senate Democrats blamed the media for being "fixated" on Obamacare much more than the public, arguing that about 85% of Americans get health care through their employer or Medicare and Medicaid, and are not directly affected by the health care law.

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Democrats unveil agenda aimed at keeping Senate

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