Will the Price of Gas Influence This Election?

[Bake]

I'm as glad as anybody to be paying less for gas (although the price is still ridiculous compared to 1 1/2 years ago!). But is there a correlation between the easing of gas prices and the uptick in *'s approval ratings? And more importantly, will the public be fooled into voting Repuke again in November by the easing of gas prices? I, for one, hope not, but then I've been guilty before of overestimating the common sense of the public.

Bake

[mnhtnbb]

1. Gas will start rising immediately after the election.

[Bake]

6. You could probably set your watch by it!

As soon as the last polls close, they'll be changing the signs on the gas stations. "Damn! I been had again!"

Bake

[INdemo]

16. You sure as hell couldn't convince a Republican of that

Beside the gas prices they will deny all those lies told during the campaign.........We have to win this..... our Democracy depends on it

[rfranklin]

2. Lower gas prices will make many comfortable with the status quo

And thus they will not vote, or they will not vote against the Republican junta.

[Rude Horner]

3. I've heard more than one person

commenting on the lower gas prices lately, saying "Must be an election coming up.". From my experience, a LOT of people are making the connection that this is just a ploy to buy our votes.

[LibinMo]

12. I reinforce this idea

whenever I hear someone comment on the low gasoline prices
(currently $2.12 here) I add "wait until after the November
elections, it will go up again"

[aikoaiko]

4. of course, bread and circus

[Ezlivin]

5. Yes. Every little bit helps

If the economy was totally shot (or at least people perceived that it was) and gas prices were still at $2.95/gallon, voters would be vengeful.

[Broken_Hero]

7. I think it will to a point...

I think the main reason why the prices are going down are...

"To get people to forget about it."

Now, I know that Americans' don't all agree with my political leanings, but I do believe a large NUMBER of them will remember 3$ plus gas, and not forgot what party was in charge while gas has been crippling people.

I hope they(Americans) will not forget who W's bed buddies are...and I hope that our prominent dems going for re-election hammer that point home.

[BootinUp]

8. Democrats need to talk about why inventories are up

Obviously consumption is down, why is that?

[Parche]

11. oil

The right wingers were using their talking points again

oil prices are up because of 'Katrina' and no new refineries have been built in several years

when its that price when it comes out of the ground.......

[BootinUp]

14. no, I think its more than talking points

There are plenty of reports about rising inventories and demand lower than expected. It makes sense in light of other reports about the economy.

[BattyDem]

9. I think the anger at the GOP goes far beyond gas prices, but ...

there are a lot of idiots in the country, so who knows? :shrug:

To those who will cast their vote based on the price of gas ... LISTEN UP! As soon as the election is over, gas prices - and the price of your home heating oil - will skyrocket again. They have several months of cold weather to recoup their losses.

[eppur_se_muova]

10. I hope so ... gas was HALF this price before Bu**sh** took over! nt

[gkhouston]

13. I personally wonder if the "uptick" in *'s approval ratings

is falsified. Nothing surprises me anymore. I've heard more than one person make the connection between suddenly dropping gas prices and the oncoming election. In the last week or so, when I hear that, I remind them that it's going to be a cold winter this year, and I wonder out loud about the costing of heating our homes. :evilgrin:

[Tactical Progressive]

15. Of course it will influence the election

The question is how much. I believe that Americans basically only give a shit about how much money they can keep for themselves. I think that when they weigh stealing elections, violating the Constitution, letting America get attacked by terrorists, lying to start wars, tens if not hundreds of thousands dead and maimed, torture in their name, and major erosion of their civil liberties, versus ten extra bucks in their pocket a week, they are ten-dollar a week uber-whores without a second thought. As such, I think that gas prices dropping will be a non-trivial influence in the election.

Given that, I think Democrats should be pre-emptively framing the gas price drop as what it is: Oil companies and Saudis pushing the prices down before an election to help Republicans stay in control. In daily conversation I say that along with things like 'Gas prices will be higher next summer than they were this summer if Republicans still control Congress.' and 'The oil companies and the Saudis must be really scared of Democrats regaining control of Congress this election if they're pushing gas prices down this much this quickly before November.

Framing, people. It's a pro-active thing, not a defensive reaction.