Record gas costs pose fresh political challenge for Biden

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rising gas prices pose a fresh election year challenge for President Joe Biden. He's balancing concerns about costs at the pump in the U.S. against calls from both parties to step up penalties on Russian President Vladimir Putin following his invasion of Ukraine.

In announcing a ban on U.S. imports of Russian oil on Tuesday, Biden was blunt in warning that while the move would hurt Putin, “there will be a cost as well here in the United States.” He sought to avoid being blamed for that by dubbing it “Putin's price hike."

Later, while arriving on a visit to Texas, Biden was asked if he had a message for the American people about gas prices and responded, "They’re going to go up.”

“Can’t do much right now," the president added in response to questions. “Russia is responsible.”

That's a message the president may have to reinforce repeatedly in coming days as drivers in the U.S. adjust to the shock of rapidly increasing gasoline prices, which reached a record average of $4.17 per gallon on Tuesday, according to AAA. That increase, combined with concerns about the rising cost of other goods, could add to the headwinds Democrats are facing heading into this year's midterm elections.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought to frame the moment as one that goes beyond politics.

“For many in our caucus, and I think on the other side, it's a moral issue,” he said. “You don't want to fuel the Russian war effort."

Still, top Republicans blamed Biden for the higher gas prices, and assailed the White House for promoting climate change-fighting environmental measures that they said had hurt U.S. energy production domestically and helped drive fuel prices up.

At the same time, many in the GOP have been pressing the president to cut off imports of Russian oil, a...