Low voter turnout in midterm elections: Can it be reversed?

In less than 50 days, voters across the country will head to the polls for the midterm elections, deciding key governor races, House races and possibly a change in which party controls the Senate.

In the run-up, Republican and Democratic campaigns alike are ramping up spending, boosting candidates and blasting opponents. And as with any election, the pressure is high, but what makes the midterms different is its traditionally low voter turnout.

According to a recent Pew Research report, in 2008, the year Barack Obama was first elected president, about 57 percent of the voting age population went to the polls.

The 2010 midterm elections drew about 37 percent of eligible voters.

But in 2012, the next presidential election year, turnout bounced back to nearly 54 percent of eligible voters.

Low turnout in the midterms has been a trend in U.S. politics since the 1840s. Pew research attributes some of that to the lack of a wow factor in the midterms. Some camps count on big names to ramp up enthusiasm and sprinkle some magic on their midterms, but if politicians know turnout is going to be low, what's the best strategy?

Should politicians pour money into TV attack ads?

Should they work the Internet and use other digital communication tools?

Or should they concentrate on what's called the ground game to turn out the base?

We consulted a panel of experts for the Inside Story.