In Friday's paper, the Los Angeles Times team of Richard Simon and Mary Curtius examine the distinct possibility that the rising price of gasoline could further weaken Republicans across the country.

As consumers feel pain at the pump, record high gas prices are registering as a political problem with congressional Republicans.

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And a growing number of GOP officials worry that, as the party in power, Republicans will pay their own high price — at the ballot box. They are scrambling to find ways to respond.

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[I]t is unclear what lawmakers can do to reduce gas prices in the short term — and whether voters will accept the argument that they have few tools to provide immediate relief.

"We should be nervous," said Kingston, vice chairman of the House Republican Conference.

Polls show that the public blames politicians — after oil companies and foreign oilproducing countries — for the high prices. A Harris Poll released Wednesday found that Americans ranked gas prices among the top five issues for the government to address. Compounding the problem for the GOP, Democrats are spotlighting fuel costs in their campaign to wrest control of Congress.

Republican candidates facing tough races in 2006 should be worried, said Tony Fabrizio, a Republican political consultant.

If Republicans are unable to reign in the cost of a gallon of gasoline -- and it's not clear that any short-term policy short of emptying the strategic petroleum reserve could do it (not to say this would be a good policy) -- this could be yet another issue upon which the Democrats can hit them.