As gas prices soar, Democrats ready for political profit

As a political issue, it's difficult to overestimate the impact of high gasoline prices. For Republicans, who control both Congress and the White House, good news on the economy's big picture seems to fade into the background as motorists fume over the cost of a fill-up.

For Democrats, the only political danger may come if voters feel the party appears too gleeful at Americans' pain. But for now, the party has been handed an issue that's almost a sure winner as it seeks to retake Congress in the fall midterms, analysts say.

"It's hard to overstate the pocketbook impact" of gas prices, says John Mercurio, senior editor of the Hotline, National Journal's political newsletter. "The Democratic Party senses a perfect storm in scoring political points on this issue."

He believes prices would have to fall below $2.50 a gallon for the issue to lose its impact. And what if prices reach $4? That's a "nightmare for Republicans," says Hotline editor in chief Chuck Todd.

As much as GOP politicians strived last week to shift at least some blame to Democrats, arguing that they blocked energy legislation in Congress for years, there's no sign the public is buying that argument.

"The Republicans have two disadvantages here," says Jack Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College in California and former GOP aide. "They have unified control of government; there's no Democratic House to blame. And second, many prominent Republicans have close ties to the energy industry. Even though those ties have nothing to do with the spike in gas prices, it's too tempting a target to pass up."

Democrats are wasting no opportunities to pound the Republicans on gasoline prices. In his party's weekly radio address Saturday, Rep. Bart Stupak (D) of Michigan mocked the GOP: "From this Republican-controlled Congress, we hear more of the same: 'Let's just drill our way to energy independence, sacrifice our environment, and provide tax breaks to Big Oil."

He was alluding to Republican proposals that include a renewed effort to gain approval for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, plus short-term measures President Bush announced last Tuesday. Among them, the president announced a suspension of US government fuel purchases for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which would leave a little more oil available to the market, he said. He also proposed a relaxation of environmental rules related to the formulation of gasoline and a repeal of $2 billion in tax incentives for the oil industry that were part of energy legislation signed into law last year.

Some lawmakers have proposed a windfall profits tax on oil companies, which are reaping massive profits, but Mr. Bush rejects that suggestion. Some members of Congress from both parties also propose a $100 rebate to most taxpayers to help them through the summer driving season.

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