Poll finds Obama, oil companies blamed the most for spike in gasoline prices

President Obama is the top target of public blame for rising gasoline prices, but views on the matter are highly fragmented, a new poll finds.

The Pew Research Center-Washington Post poll shows 18 percent of people surveyed think Obama deserves the most blame, but there’s a partisan divide. Just 5 percent of Democrats blame Obama, compared to 33 percent of Republicans and 20 percent of independents.

Regular gasoline prices are now averaging $3.74 per gallon nationwide, and have surged to more than $4 in some areas, according to AAA.

Oil companies come next in the poll conducted Feb. 23-26, with 14 percent of the 1,005 adults surveyed saying they’re the most to blame.

The data come as energy costs have risen to the top of the election-year political agenda in Washington and on the campaign trail.

Obama, seeking to blunt criticism on the matter, has given a pair of high-profile energy policy speeches over the last week, while Capitol Hill Republicans are launching daily attacks against the White House.

Eleven percent of adults polled said tensions with Iran, Middle Eastern turmoil and the threat of war are most responsible for the surge, while 5 percent laid the most blame on government and politicians generally.

Just 4 percent blamed Wall Street speculators the most for the price run-up. Congressional Democrats are increasingly arguing that “excessive” speculation is boosting prices far beyond what supply-and-demand fundamentals should dictate.

Rounding out the list: Four percent blamed Congress the most, and 4 percent said consumers themselves and gas-guzzlers are most responsible for the price jump.

Just 1 percent said, “Not using U.S. resources/Not enough drilling in U.S./Environmental restrictions” are most to blame. Republicans have argued that the Obama administration places too many limits on domestic energy production.
 
Obama, in recent speeches, has highlighted rising U.S. production and plans for new lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico.

But Republicans are calling for much more expansive leasing — including areas off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts — and faster permitting for drillers in areas that are already open to development.

The poll has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4 percent, but the variation is higher for data broken down by political affiliation.

— This post was updated at 10:53 a.m.

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