AOL Poll Almost Two-Thirds Now Fear Gas Prices

[cal04]

Almost Two-Thirds Now Fear Gas Prices Will Be a Financial Hardship

The pinch at the pump is starting to feel more like a punch for a growing number of Americans. With gas prices soaring, almost two-thirds of those surveyed for an AP-AOL poll expect fuel costs will cause them financial hardship in coming months. That was sharply higher than in April, when about half felt that way.

Crude oil prices reached a record high of more than $66 a barrel Friday. That's almost 50 percent higher than a year ago. The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was more than $2.40 per gallon at week's end, compared with $1.86 a year ago and about $2.21 in April, according to the auto club AAA.

The poll conducted for The Associated Press and America Online News found that 64 percent say gas prices will cause money problems for them in the next six months, while 35 percent did not think so. In April, 51 percent expressed concerns about the cost of gas. Those most likely to be worried about the financial impact are people with low incomes, the unemployed and minorities.
The AP-AOL survey of 1,000 adults was conducted Aug. 9-11 by Ipsos, an international polling firm. The survey has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBKG3RHACE.html

Results of AP-AOL Poll on Gas Prices
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB7BS7IACE.html

[FloridaPat]

1. Who is in that other third - the rich that got the tax cuts? Or maybe the

ones with the hybred cars.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. We own a hybrid and trust me

it is STILL expensive as hell

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. My husband drives a lot due to his job. The gas prices are NOT helpful

[Liberty Belle]

3. Dems should make this a campaign issue.

Republicans are rewarding big oil companies and the Saudis, while refusing to invest in alternative and renewable fuel sources.

Dems need to tout an energy plan that will help ordinary people combat sticker shock at the pumps.

[aintitfunny]

4. Gas prices $2.55 this morning

so I wrote a letter to the editor, hopefully it will get published.

[yardwork]

5. but but but the preznet was gonna take CARE of thiz!

[opihimoimoi]

6. Bush and his Oil Pals:"""""MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"""

Those assholes...its all Bushies fault...

[lectrobyte]

12. Anyone have a link to that debate quote about Bush's response

to high oil prices? Something about "I know the Saudis, we'd sit down and fix it" or somesuch?

[GoBlue]

7. Have no fear, ExxonMobile is here...

Net income was $7.64 billion, or $1.20 a share, in the second quarter (2005), compared with $5.79 billion, or 88 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.

And they're buying back their stock as fast as they can.

[Vogon_Glory]

8. Have No Fear, Republicans, Right-Wingnuts Will Swing Into Action

Have no fear, Republicans, AOL's organized right wingie-dingies will band together to reverse those poll numbers and express their confidence that their avatar Gee Dubya What's-His-Name will jawbone the oil companies into driving the price of gasoline down to 99 cents a gallon.

[yardwork]

9. "Gee Dubya What's-His-Name" I love it!

[Carni]

10. Gee...Who'd have thunk it?

Please someone tell me that the people in this country aren't THAT stupid...they are just now *fearing gas prices*

WhereTF have THEY been?

Driving Dick Cheney around in his underground lair where gas is free?

These damned gas prices have been a "hardship" for months.