Gas prices hurt Obama's standing
High gas prices are dragging down President Obama's approval and re-elect numbers, a new Washington Post/ABC News poll finds.
Gas prices hurt Obama's standing
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
President Obama is having gas pains.
Disapproval of Obama’s handling of the economy has jumped, driven in large part by public anger over the rising per-gallon price of gasoline, according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll released Monday. That movement, in turn, seems to have reversed gains Obama had enjoyed in re-election matchups against his potential GOP opponents in recent surveys.
In the new poll, 46 percent approve of the way Obama is handling his job, and 50 percent disapproval. That’s a mirror image of his positive 50-percent-to-46-percent split early last month in the Washington Post/ABC survey.
About two-thirds of Americans say they disapprove of the way Obama is dealing with runaway prices at the gas pump, while 26 percent approve. Respondents said higher fuel prices were pinching their family budgets and businesses.
Overall, Obama gets a 59 percent disapproval rating for his handling of the economy – and 50 percent disapprove strongly, the highest negative score yet for Obama in the poll.
The results show that Obama’s reelection status is shaky, despite recent indications of improvement in some economic measures, such as job creation, slight elevations in the president’s job-approval rating across several polls, and the continued combat of the GOP nomination race, which has driven down approval ratings of the opposition party and its candidates as their debate drags on toward spring.
Also on Monday, the White House released a report on progress on its energy policies, which said that imports of oil have declined 1 million barrels per day over the past year and that domestic oil and gas production has increased to an eight-year high. The administration touted its imposition of stricter fuel-economy standards on auto manufacturers and progress toward greater availability of alternative sources of energy such as biofuels, solar, and wind power.
“Despite the gains we've made, today's high gas prices are a painful reminder that there's much more work to do free ourselves from our dependence on foreign oil and take control of our energy future,” Obama said in a statement.
Comment removed.- He's had 4 years. If he can't change anything in 4 years, then he's just incompetent. But hey, cast your vote for him, just don't be whining about it 4 years from now and trying to still blame it on Bush.
— verve 
how does the president control gas prices? you could say he could up domestic oil production on federal land, but that wouldn't impact gas prices one single cent until 5 or 6 years down the road. this is all about the market. the republicans holy beloved market which all of a sudden when it goes against a dem they don't care about so much anymore.
one way he could lower prices is to continue to require improve efficiency in cars. this would cause the demand of gas to go down and force OPEC to cut prices big time. of course, republicans are against that. because it would hurt the bottom line of their best friends, the oil companies.— Ryan- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Posse...the retail price for a gallon of gasoline when The Failure in Chief was elected...$1.63. Today? Sorry, B Hussein O owns it and 100% of it. The buck stops with him (even though he believes the buck always stops elsewhere- the French admire his courage & honor). His total lack of results are truly "historic". Somehow, he has managed to make worse every major economic indicator. Hope & change.— kelprod2
- Comment removed.
- Go take your meds posse, you're clearly delusional exhibiting signs of repetitive behavior. Just one click necessary dude.
— dogman5 - Comment removed.
- kelprod why are you looking for the government to solve your problems. Perhaps you should get a better job so the extra 50 cents a gallon doesn't take your whole paycheck.— The Fundamentals of the Economy are Fine
- kelprod doesn't like President Obama. Seems to think everything wrong with America started with this President. He doesn't like calling President Obama, President Obama. He thinks this is ok. I guess because he doesn't like a certain group of people. He constantly refers to President Obama by his middle name because he thinks that stupid people will think he is a Muslim. Oh wait, they do. Well stupid is as stupid says!— skolman
- kelprod doesn't like President Obama. Seems to think everything wrong with America started with this President. He doesn't like calling President Obama, President Obama. He thinks this is ok. I guess because he doesn't like a certain group of people. He constantly refers to President Obama by his middle name because he thinks that stupid people will think he is a Muslim. Oh wait, they do. Well stupid is as stupid says!— skolman
- btw kelprod you never did say what freedom is. Do you know?— skolman
- the gas prices and the horrid economy will be Barry's downfall in november,as an Independent voter,the and writing is on the wall for Barry,he'll lose ohio-florida-penna,,the independent voters will not vote for him this time..book it....wolf.— wolf 4
- Fundamentals...I could care less about the retail price of gasoline...it does not matter to me- I can afford it. Most do not have that luxury.
Posse...At what point do they shut off the computers inside your mental hospital?
Skolman...freedom is being permitted to do what you wish without governmental interference. With each new law, ordinance, regulation, mandate and tax...we become less free. Cuba loves you, Skolman.— kelprod2
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
