As recently as a few weeks ago, pollsters were not generally asking Americans to rate the importance of gas prices as an election issue. Since May, several national polls have included gas/energy prices as a potential poll answer, and voters have consistently ranked it quite high. It's among the top 3 in most recent polls, including CNN's latest effort. With the likelihood that pump prices will remain high through the election (and beyond) it's possible that this will be the first election in recent years in which gas prices influence the outcome.

And what is the Democratic plan, according to an anonymous Hill aide?

“Right now, our strategy on gas prices is ‘Drive small cars and wait for the wind,’ ” said a Democratic aide.

Why the concern? Because enough Democrats feel they're on the wrong side of the issue to pass initiatives favored by Republicans:

A senior Democratic leadership aide acknowledged this week that there are plenty of members of the majority caucus “who want to drill and want to drill where Republicans want to drill.”

Even if Democratic leaders could beat back a GOP motion on drilling, the vote could be used as political ammunition against their vulnerable members this fall...

One pro-drilling Democrat predicted that the backlash against Congress for gas prices could rival the outrage voters felt about the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

Another, Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), is frustrated at not being listened to.

“My concern with my leadership is that they’re not letting all the people in the room to present the facts,” said Melancon, a proponent of more offshore drilling. “Where are all the pro-oil legislators? I’m not in the room. I don’t know who is. My feeling is we are not being all-inclusive to pass legislation that can get through the Senate and avoid a veto.”

In the past, the salience of gas prices as an election issue has generally faded as gas prices fell in the wake of the summer driving season. This year there may not be much of a price decline, and that ought to worry Democrats who are standing in the way of increased supply.