WASHINGTON - An Associated Press report earlier this week said President Obama "is scrambling to get ahead" of rising gas prices, which he sees as a potential obstacle to his re-election bid.
"My poll numbers go up and down depending on the latest crisis, and right now gas prices are weighing heavily on people," he said. "It's just another burden when things were already pretty tough."
The AP said Americans have historically punished politicians when gas prices "[go] through the roof," which has become a recurring frustration on the campaign trail.
While Obama offered solutions during his weekly radio address last weekend (developing alternatives to fossil fuel, ending the $4 billion in subsidies for oil and gas companies), Republicans are blaming the high prices on Democrats, saying they have stifled domestic drilling.
"The administration has declared what can only be described as a war on American energy," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
"Obama is vulnerable on gas prices and the Republicans have and will exploit this as a wedge issue," said James Thurber, who directs the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University.
At the same time, Obama has ordered his Justice Department to form a task force to look for fraud or manipulation in the oil markets.
"Gas prices are a major factor in his slide ... along with unemployment and his talk about cuts and tax increases to deal with deficits and debt," Thurber said.
Obama has tried to dispel a rush to judgment.
"Whenever gas prices shoot up, like clockwork, you see politicians racing to the cameras, waving three-point plans for two dollar gas," Obama said during his Saturday address.
The 2011 NACS Fuels Report provides an in-depth look at today€™s motor fuels retailing industry - and where it is headed. Learn more at nacsonline.com/gasprices.