Most Americans blame President Joe Biden for rising gas prices, an alarming number for Democrats ahead of the midterm elections and a sign that the administration’s attempt to shift the blame to Vladimir Putin is not working.
Roughly 39% in a new Emerson College poll said Biden was to blame for fueling problems, while 21% blamed gas sanctions on Russia, 18% blamed gas companies, and 9% blamed supply chain problems.
The results show that about the same number of voters blame President Biden and Russian sanctions and oil companies combined.
Biden and his administration have consistently blamed the coronavirus pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on high inflation.
“Let’s be absolutely clear why prices are high right now for two reasons. One of them was COVID — the way the global economy works,” he said in a speech to the National League of Cities last Monday.
“Now the second big cause of inflation is Vladimir Putin,” he said. “Make no mistake: Vladimir Putin is largely to blame for the current gas price spikes.
The administration also blames oil companies for the surge.
“Oil prices are down, gas prices should be too,” the president tweeted last week. “Last time oil was $96 a barrel, gas was $3.62 a gallon. Now it is 4.31 dollars. Oil and gas companies should not increase their profits at the expense of hardworking Americans.”
A new poll shows a majority of Americans blame President Joe Biden for raising gas prices.
In addition, President Biden’s approval rating has fallen in recent months as voters complain about record inflation. The numbers are worrisome for Democrats heading into the November election as they defend their control of the House and Senate.
A Wall Street Journal poll earlier this month showed tough numbers for the president as voters strongly disapproved of his handling of the economy and inflation.
A majority of voters, 63%, said they disapprove of Biden’s handling of the high costs they face, with only 34% approving. It was his worst ranking among six policy questions in the poll.
And Biden’s overall approval rating was 42%, compared to 57% who disapprove of his presidency.
In addition, 47% of voters said Republicans are better at dealing with inflation, but only 30% think Democrats are.
And in a warning sign for Democrats’ prospects in November’s midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, a majority of voters – 45% – said Republicans have a better plan to improve the economy, compared to 37% who said Democrats.
The poll showed that 46% said they would vote for the Republican nominee in November, compared to 41% who would vote for the Democrat.
The Wall Street Journal survey included 1,500 respondents with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Poll after poll shows that Americans are unhappy with high food, gas and rent prices and blame the administration.
Now Maryland and Georgia have temporarily suspended their gas tax, and the White House has abandoned a plan to send out prepaid cards to help Americans cover the costs.
Maryland on Friday became the first state in the country to suspend a gas tax.
Republican Gov. Larry Hogan signed legislation to eliminate the 36.1 cents per gallon tax on gasoline and the 36.85 cents per gallon tax on diesel effective immediately within the next 30 days.
Also on Friday, Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a similar bill that would eliminate the state tax of about 29 cents a gallon of gas until the end of May.
Americans continue to grapple with high gas station prices, even as there are slight signs of easing.
The average price per gallon of regular gasoline on Tuesday was $4.24, according to the AAA, down 9 cents from the all-time high of $4.33 earlier this month.
Worries about high prices, which contributed to President Joe Biden’s approval ratings plummeting, have prompted the White House to consider a plan to give Americans gas ration cards to offset the high prices.
Maryland and Georgia have temporarily suspended their gas tax as prices remain high.
But the Biden administration has faced strong opposition from Congress, including many Democrats, who have questioned the viability and effectiveness of the plan, Axios reports.
Congressional fears: It will be expensive and poorly targeted, the cards won’t help lower prices and distract the IRS from mailing as they tried to end tax season.
Several legislators have supported legislation to reduce the federal gas tax, but these bills have not had a significant impact on the legislative process.
Meanwhile, other states are considering similar options with Georgia and Maryland.
Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also called for a temporary suspension of the 6 percent tax on fuel, a move she said would “provide drivers easier fueling now, not next year.”
In California, state lawmakers have proposed a $400 gas rebate to help drivers cope with rising gas prices.