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?