Americans angry with Obama over gas price hike

A new poll shows more than two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the way President Barack Obama is responding to hikes in gasoline prices, casting doubts on his reelection prospects. According to a Reuters/Ipsos online poll released on Tuesday, sixty-eight percent disapproved and 24 percent approved of how Obama is handling the high gas prices. The online poll, which surveyed 606 Americans on March 26-27, also indicated that the disapproval reaches across party lines, with eighty-nine percent of Republicans, 52 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of independents expressing dissatisfaction over the issue. "People are unhappy that they are having to pay USD 3.90 a gallon. They want somebody to be able to lash out at and the president is as good a person as anybody," said Chris Jackson, research director for Ipsos public affairs. Analysts believe that higher gas prices lower Obama’s chances for a second term at the White House. “We’re a car country. If it gets up around six bucks a gallon - I think it is in places - if it gets around six, seven bucks a gallon, I think Mr. Obama is out,” Charlie Wolf, a US Republican Party advocate and strategist, told Press TV in an interview. According to a report by the AAA Fuel Gauge, the price of gas is up 23 cents a gallon from a month ago, and is expected to rise even further over the coming months. Experts expect the prices to jump 10 to 20 cents over the next few weeks before reaching their pick in mid-May at around a record-breaking USD 4.25 a gallon.