Interviews with several political operatives reveal a growing consensus that the president will have a difficult time avoiding political fallout if gasoline prices continue to rise and electricity shortages in California spread throughout the nation. Not everybody is so patient. California Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat fighting for his political life, has accused Bush of not doing enough to help ease the state's electricity crunch. Republicans in California have warned of potential fallout, prompting Bush to dispatch Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to the state last week. Abraham faced tough questions from lawmakers Tuesday about Bush's plans to cut energy research by 30 percent, with some programs involving solar and wind energy slashed in half.
Republicans are afraid of the political cost of high energy prices.
We've got the rolling blackouts and the gas prices dominating the national news. We don't want to be the ostrich party and stick our head in the sand. Eager to avoid blame, the White House has pointed fingers everywhere for the lack of a national energy policy. Trying to lower expectations, Vice President Dick Cheney said creating energy policy is difficult work. They ducked it for 8 years.