THE HIDDEN ISSUE? – AT 10:46 A.M. ET:  Have you noticed that gas prices are rising again?  After a brief respite, Americans are being treated to sharp increases at the pump.

Should the Republican Party care to notice along with us, this could be a major issue in the home-stretch presidential campaign to come.  Gasoline prices are seen every day by most Americans.  They are perhaps the most visible, most keenly felt prices of all.  From the Detroit News, which specializes in coverage of things automotive:

Gas prices in Metro Detroit climbed for the sixth straight day Friday, averaging $3.99 and going as high as $4.29 for a gallon of unleaded regular.

Since last Saturday, the average price for a fill-up — if you can afford to splurge that much — has jumped 34 cents a gallon, according to AAA, or about five bucks more for a 15-gallon tankful.

The prices are the highest since gas hit an average of $4.08 in March, before dropping to $3.47 just a month ago.

The increased prices, noted AAA Michigan spokeswoman Nancy Cain, leave consumers less money to spend on travel, groceries and other household expenses. "People will economize in other areas to make up for what they are spending on gas," she said.

The timing couldn't be worse, as unemployment remains high — up to 8.3 percent nationally on Friday and at 8.6 percent for Michigan during June.

COMMENT:  One reason for the increase in gas prices, of course, is that the Obama administration has failed to take the steps to increase drilling and other extraction methods, exploiting the vast reserves we have.  Indeed, if we exploited our reserves, we could be independent of foreign supplies in relatively short order.

Republicans, are you ready to discuss this?

August 5,  2012