“They’re late to the party, but better late than never,” Blumenthal tells TIME. “The President’s support hopefully will give it some momentum in the Republican caucus.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said Monday he had not historically supported suspending the tax, warning that it would leave “a big hole” in the Highway Trust Fund. “I think right now, the best thing that can happen for gas prices is for the Strait to get opened up again,” Thune told reporters.
The debate comes as both Democrats and Republicans are trying to frame themselves ahead of the midterms as the party of affordability. Even some small relief at the pump could give Trump the chance to claim credit for acting aggressively to lower prices —potentially blunting a key Democratic argument against him.
“I’ll give him credit,” Kelly tells TIME. “People need relief… He’s stuck and he’s out of ideas.”