Eight in ten say economy is the main midterm issue as Buttigieg calls inflation Biden's top priority

Eight in ten Americans say economy is at the top of their mind in the midterms as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg calls inflation Biden’s top priority while just 27% approve of the president’s handling of the issue

  • A new poll shows 83% of Americans say that the economy is either an extremely or very important issue in determining how they will vote in the 2022 midterms 
  • 61%, 71% and 72% of respondents respectively disapprove of Biden’s handling of economic recovery, inflation and gas prices
  • Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday morning that inflation is President Biden’s ‘top economic priority’ 
  • He also blamed record-setting gas price hikes on oil companies
  • As of Sunday, the average price per gallon of gas in the U.S. is at $4.84

Voters say that economic issues are their top priority heading into the 2022 midterm elections as only 37 percent say they approve of how President Joe Biden is handling economic recovery – and even less approve of gas prices and inflation.

A whopping 83 percent of Americans say that the economy is either an extremely or very important issue in determining how they will vote, according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll published on Sunday.

But Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg assured ABC News in a Sunday morning interview that inflation is Biden’s ‘top economic priority,’ despite record-setting hikes and record-low approval.

‘I’m sure additional ideas will be welcomed,’ Buttigieg said on the continued effort to improve the economy.

When it comes to inflation, only 28 percent of Americans approve of Biden’s handling of the issue compared to the 71 percent who disapprove.

A new ABC News/Ipsos poll shows that 83 percent of Americans say that the economy is either an extremely or very important issue in determining how they will vote in the 2022 midterms – and a vast majority disapprove of Biden's handling of economic recovery, inflation and gas prices

A new ABC News/Ipsos poll shows that 83 percent of Americans say that the economy is either an extremely or very important issue in determining how they will vote in the 2022 midterms – and a vast majority disapprove of Biden’s handling of economic recovery, inflation and gas prices

The survey, taken among 542 American adults on June 3-4, shows Biden underwater is every area related to the economy.

Of those polled, 80 percent say that inflation is either an extremely or very important factor in how they will cast their ballot in the 2022 midterms, where predictions already show a Republican bloodbath. When it comes to gas prices, 74 percent say the issue will be at the top of their mind when they vote.

When it comes to economic issues, Biden scores the worst on gas prices, which have reached a national average of $4.84 per gallon as of Sunday.

Seventy-two percent of Americans disapprove of Biden’s handling of gas prices – as the administration continues to call it the ‘Putin gas hike,’ and places the blame on the conflict in Eastern Europe.

Only 27 percent of Americans approve of how Biden is handling gas prices.

‘Americans feel gas prices just about more than anything else,’ ABC This Week host George Stephanopoulos said to Buttigieg on Sunday. ‘We’re seeing $5 a gallon, approaching $5 a gallon across the country right now, as we head into the summer vacation season.’

‘Earlier this year the president tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which hasn’t made any difference at all. Was that a failure?’ he asked to Transportation Department head.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday morning that inflation is President Biden's 'top economic priority' and blamed record-setting gas price hikes on oil companies

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday morning that inflation is President Biden’s ‘top economic priority’ and blamed record-setting gas price hikes on oil companies

As of Sunday, June 5, 2022, the average price per gallon of gas in the U.S. is at $4.84

As of Sunday, June 5, 2022, the average price per gallon of gas in the U.S. is at $4.84 

‘Well, look, I don’t think it’s correct to say it hasn’t made any difference at all,’ Buttigieg assured.

This is an action that helped to stabilize global oil prices. The action the president took around ethanol, introducing additional flexibility there, that’s having an effect on prices in the Midwest.’

Buttigieg defended his boss, claiming that the ‘price of gasoline is not set by a dial in the Oval Office,’ and instead deflected blame for the rising prices on oil companies.

‘It’s been very striking right now to see these oil companies, who have become almost ridiculously profitable, and you hear these oil executives on the record talking about how they’re not going to increase production. Why would they? They’re doing great right now,’ he said.

source: dailymail.co.uk