Back in the 1992 election cycle, some bright bulb in the Bill Clinton camp taped up the now famous “It’s the Economy, Stupid” sign, and it became history – then legend. Less than a year ago, many Democratic supporters – salivating over a repeat of the 2006 GOP blowout – were saying, “It’s Iraq, Stupid.” Earlier this year we saw a return to 1992 as a sluggish, torpid economy turned voters against George W. Bush and the GOP brand. With the onset of summer, however, $4 per gallon gas – threatening to soar to five – seems to have triggered a tipping point. The Campaign Spot seems to think this could be the new, major wedge issue.

Rasmussen Reports conducted a special Florida survey to measure the immediate impact of the offshore drilling issue on the Presidential race. As one part of the survey, respondents were told that McCain favored offshore drilling and said it would bring down the price of gas and oil. They were also told that Barack Obama opposed offshore drilling and said it would not bring down the price of gas and oil. After hearing the views of both McCain and Obama, most Florida voters agreed with McCain—61% said it was likely that offshore drilling would reduce gas prices. Only 34% disagreed and said that offshore drilling would not accomplish that goal.

Some notable Democratic enthusiasts, such as Jerome Armstrong of MyDD noted, in another key swing state, that “Seventy-one percent (71%) of Ohio voters agree with McCain’s position that the ban on offshore drilling should be lifted, while 18% disagree.” This is obviously raising concerns.

The politics have changed, and I don’t see the principle that guides Democrats to be unequivocally against offshore drilling for oil at this point. We are stuck on oil for a long time. Congressional Dems should adopt the position, include some safeguards, and alongside billions in funding for finding alternative fuel solutions, make it part of a long-term solution.

As I have said repeatedly in this space, fuel prices and energy concerns are going to be the major issue for voters this fall at the rate we are going. Summer gas tax “holidays” and lawsuits against OPEC or encouraging voters to take staycations vs. vacations are only bandaids, and pathetic ones at that. We need to loosen restrictions on the construction of new nuclear plants to boost electricity generation and remove all need for fossil fuels put to that purpose. And until we can bridge the gap to permanent, renewable fuel options, we’re going to need to get more energy from someplace, and local drilling combined with clean coal will likely be needed to carry the day.

John McCain has already proposed the construction of 45 new nuke plants and allowing states to make their own determination about offshore drilling and new refineries. These are traditionally risky propositions which would likely have turned off voters in the past. But given the tipping point we have reached, I would ask my fellow independents, undecideds and third party enthusiasts the following question: If the two parties remain on their current collision course over increasing energy supplies, in 2020 will we be chortling over the McCain volunteer who pasted a piece of copier paper to the campaign office wall reading, “It’s the gas pumps, stupid?”