Gas prices are public's top priority

WASHINGTON — Gas prices are soaring past $3 a gallon and fuel supply lines have been crippled by Hurricane Katrina.

Now the public is demanding that President Bush and Congress make fuel prices their highest domestic priority, an AP-Ipsos poll found.

The high expectations that the government should do something combined with the limited options available make the fast-growing price of gasoline a perilous political dilemma for the president. He is already facing the lowest public approval of his presidency.

"The president's got to step up to the plate," said carpenter Barry Whittington, who lives near Deale, Md., and voted for Bush. "This is killing me."

Gasoline prices were named as the top domestic priority for the nation's political leaders by 24 percent, slightly behind Iraq at 29 percent, but ahead of other domestic issues like the economy and jobs at 14 percent and terrorism at 9 percent.

The high interest in gas prices could be found in most age groups and income groups. Those over age 65, who have less pressure to drive around, were slightly less likely than younger adults to consider fuel prices a priority.

An AP-Ipsos poll in January showed the Iraq war was the top public priority, followed by the economy and jobs. The price of gasoline, still comfortably under $2 a gallon at that point, was not one of the choices in that survey.

While people are concerned about making gas prices a priority, almost two-thirds said they're not confident the president can do much about it. Not surprisingly, Republicans were far more confident than Democrats on Bush's ability to handle gas prices.

"I'm not confident the president can come up with a solution," said Casey Hughes, a mother and volunteer who lives near Akron, Ohio. "I'm concerned that Congress is so polarized that they stay focused on fighting each other. It's hard for them to compromise with each other and accomplish anything."

Gas prices jumped by more than 50 cents a gallon Wednesday in Ohio, 40 cents in Georgia and 30 cents in Maine. Hurricane Katrina knocked out refineries and pipelines along the Gulf Coast, a region that supplies about a third of the country's gasoline. A panic in some communities led to "Out of Gas" signs and yellow caution tape draped across pumps by Thursday morning.

"We're going to have a temporary disruption of gasoline," Bush said. "Don't buy gas if you don't need it."