High gas prices threaten Biden campaign

We know that inflation is driving Americans crazy. If you’re unsure, just call your mother. For many, it is their biggest complaint right now. And because President Biden is in the White House, he gets the blame. But over the last few months, one thing he has been pointing to is low gas prices. But unfortunately, if you look closer recently, they have been steadily and quietly going up. Now, this is a common thing going into the summer. More people drive more. It pushes up demand. That is normal. But there are other reasons as well, ones that may be more deliberate, even political, like Saudi Arabia and Russia continuing to cut oil production until June. And remember, when production is down, prices go up here to discuss that and more. Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha. He’s a former senior campaign adviser for Bernie Sanders, a cowboy hat aficionado, and a New York Times Opinion contributor and Co host of the Latino Vote podcast. And Tim Miller is here, host of the Bulwark podcast and former communications director for Republican Jeb Bush. Tim, the last thing that President Biden wants or needs is rising gas prices. But do you know who wants them? Saudi Arabia, Russia and their bestie. Bestie best? Donald Trump. Should President Biden be explaining this to the American people? Because when they look at the price of the pump, they’re not going to think about that. They’re just going to say what’s going on. Why does my life cost so much? Damn president. Yeah, I don’t know how much explaining about OPEC is really going to do for the president politically. I know that Ron Klain, previous chief of Staff was laser focused on this and and every day was monitoring gas prices. I think there were some moves that they made with regards to the strategic oil reserve and I think if there are other levers that he can pull, he should pull them. I I think one of the biggest concerns I’ve had this year, I’ve several concerns this year, but one of the bigger ones was exactly we’re talking about now. I think it’s pretty clear that MBS would rather have Donald Trump in the White House. Same with Putin, of course. And so there might be some monkey business with oil prices that go beyond June, you know, end of this year. And I think that’s something that the White House is gonna have to contend with. And I I would like to hear a little bit more. One thing I would like to hear from the White House is a little bit more about how we are producing a record amount of oil right now in this country. And some sometimes it feels like maybe they’re a little bit shy to want to admit that they don’t want to upset people on the progressive left, which I understand, but they’ve done a lot for climate. There’s a lot a good story to tell there. I’d like to hear the story as well on domestic oil production. Chuck, what do you think? These prices are not the fault of President Biden. Tim just laid it out. We’ve got the highest oil production in U.S. history and some overseas oil producers who would sure like to help DJT. Let me be clear that the Republicans know how to use this and would use this against Joe Biden. One of the most brilliant small political things I saw done that was very, very powerful last year. And when I went to the pump, there was a little sticker of Joe Biden with a finger pointing I did that. They were sticking in on gasoline pumps, saying he’s the reason that the gas pump was so high. When I do focus groups all around the country, I’m still with those old school political consultants who work on campaigns. Every single day. People talk about gas and groceries because no matter who you are, almost everybody in America every week has to buy gas and groceries. And to your point, Steph, when it goes up just a little bit, they’re going to blame the person in charge, even if he has nothing to do. And OPEC and Russia and all of these things have to do, they’re going to blame Joe Biden. And the other side knows, Chuck, Speaking of higher prices, President Biden is now calling to triple the tariffs on Chinese steel, right. His goal is for us to use more American steel, but that also means we could see higher prices. How does he balance the two things? Well, I think going into an election year, this is a good narrative for him because what happens with these foreign companies is they dump these products on our shores for almost no cost at all. And everybody probably knows that in China still is subsidized and what they’re trying to do is hurt our market share. Steph, I know you get this more than anybody. It’s not like gas and groceries. You don’t see a spike immediately. It’s something that happens overtime. It’s in constructions, It’s built in the cost of big buildings that still you steal. This is a great narrative for him talking about things being made in America. It’s one of the narratives that Donald Trump stole from us that we have to get back. And I think that’s why you saw the president in Pittsburgh today speaking at the Steel Workers Union headquarters. President Biden also put out a new ad today all about American workers. Let’s watch peace. We listened to four years of Donald Trump talking about infrastructure because there was a lot of lip service with the previous administration. Joe Biden delivered on it. I see jobs coming to the area. I see infrastructure being fixed up. I see those policies working. We can strengthen our workforce in this country. That’s what Joe Biden has done, you tell me. An investment that the previous administration made that is even close to what Joe Biden has done. Chuck, do you think this will resonate with voters? Because it continues to be amazing that former President Trump is sort of able to peel off union workers who support him when President Biden has been more pro union than almost any president I could think of. The presidential election will only be held in about 6 States and Pennsylvania. In the Midwest are three of those states. Auto workers in Detroit, steel workers in Pittsburgh. This is the perfect ad to run in those three states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. It’s time to get back that messaging. I have designed that logo that was on that shirt with the steel Workers Union and I also worked for Dick Gephardt. We have to take some of this narrative back if we’re going to start getting these non college edged hard working men and women back with the party who built the middle class.