Axelrod Wants Voter Payback for Guns Stance

David Axelrod took to Twitter Wednesday to warn that votes against gun-control legislation could politically hurt Republicans in the long run.

"A bunch of suburban, swing district Republicans in House are probably deeply relieved that Senate appears poised to kill background checks," Axelrod tweeted. "Interested to see if Bloomberg and others who've worked hard on this issue remain active in 2014 elections, holding no votes accountable."

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made his gun-control position known in Illinois this year when his Super PAC backed Robin Kelly to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. in the 2nd Congressional District. Kelly went on to win that race and was sworn in last week just before a vote on gun legislation.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., told NBC News, though, that the bipartisan effort he co-authored to expand background checks does not have the votes to advance in the Senate. Sources also told NBC News the effort’s proponents are 4 to 5 votes short, a gulf that could widen if Democrats in conservative states decide not to support the measure.

That didn't sit too well with Axelrod. "90% or not, until Congress feels a backlash from voters for opposing common sense laws like background checks, they won't cross gun lobby," he tweeted.

In an unrelated press conference in Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel called the lack of votes for background checks "a cop-out."

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