Most registered voters blame President Trump for rising gas prices, according to a new poll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quinnipiac University\u2019s national poll, which was released Wednesday, found that more than half of respondents, 51 percent, blame Trump \u201ca lot\u201d for gas prices spiking while 14 percent blame him \u201csome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comparatively, 11 percent of respondents blame him \u201cnot much\u201d while 23 percent do not blame him at all for the rise in costs at the pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The national gas price average is $4.04, according to AAA. Last year at this time, gas cost $3.17 per gallon, per the U.S. Energy Information Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The spike in prices is caused in large part by the slowing of oil transports through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed after the start of the U.S.-Israeli military operations in the Middle Eastern country. The critical choke point is responsible for a fifth of the world\u2019s daily oil transports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, a U.S. naval blockade is in place to prevent Iran from selectively granting ships safe travel through the passageway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Wednesday, Trump said he expects prices to drop \u201ctremendously\u201d over the next few months and said he doesn\u2019t expect that oil prices will be high during the midterm elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Sunday said gas prices may not drop below $3 until next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Party divides in the Quinnipiac poll were stark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ninety-one percent of surveyed Democrats blame Trump \u201ca lot\u201d for the price spike, 6 percent blame him \u201csome\u201d and 1 percent blame him \u201cnot much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than half of independents, 53 percent, fault Trump \u201ca lot\u201d for higher gas prices; 20 percent blame him \u201csome\u201d; and 10 percent blame Trump \u201cnot much,\u201d while 15 percent say they do not blame him at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in the GOP, 9 percent of surveyed Republicans blame Trump \u201ca lot\u201d for the gas price spike, 13 percent blame him \u201csome\u201d and 23 percent blame him \u201cnot much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fifty-three percent of Republicans say he\u2019s not to blame at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This week in Islamabad, Pakistan, talks between the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to start, with the goal of ending the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
International leaders have encouraged a departure from conflict in the region and a swift solution for the strait\u2019s reopening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the poll, 40 percent of registered American voters support U.S. military action against Iran while 53 percent oppose the war. Seven percent said they did not know or had no answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,028 self-identified registered voters nationwide from April 9 to April 13. The margin of error for the poll is 3.8 percentage points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n