Click here to watch "Lunsford Gas Tax."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., became the latest Republican to fire an attack ad at his Democratic opponent over the much-discussed issue of gasoline prices late last week. His latest TV ad (subscription), and the first of the general election campaign for McConnell's Senate seat, accuses businessman Bruce Lunsford of raising the gas tax, a move that the McConnell campaign claims "has already cost Kentuckians hundreds of millions." The vote in question was held nearly 30 years ago. But that has not stopped McConnell from insinuating that Lunsford is personally responsible for Kentucky's high fuel prices, even as the national average has shot up over the last several months.

Both parties are trying to use high fuel prices to score political points against their opponents. In a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll, 85 percent of respondents said that gasoline prices were extremely or very important to them when considering whom to vote for this year, placing it behind only the economy on voters' list of concerns.

Republicans have seized on one issue in particular: domestic drilling. This is one of the few policy areas where public opinion seems to be on their side. In late June, a Gallup survey found that a 57 percent majority of Americans favor expanding offshore drilling to areas currently off-limits to oil companies.

John McCain went after Barack Obama over drilling in a TV ad earlier this week. And the conservative group Freedom's Watch ran radio ads in 16 congressional districts in early July lambasting House Democrats for blocking increased oil production while families are forced to "cut back on gas and groceries, family outings, and summer vacations."

Meanwhile, Republican leaders on the Hill are pressuring (subscription) their Democratic colleagues to bring the issue of drilling up for debate. The federal ban on offshore drilling is set to expire on September 30, unless Democrats can muster enough votes to renew it. So far, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have been reluctant to put this issue to a vote.

So what are Democrats doing to combat rising oil prices? First, they are blaming oil speculators for driving prices up. New Mexico Senate candidate Tom Udall embraces this tactic in his latest TV ad. Second, Democrats are pointing the finger at two of their favorite targets: President Bush and "Big Oil."

In June, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched radio ads in 13 congressional districts, in which a Bush impersonator calls Republican congressmen to thank them for their "support of the Big Oil energy agenda." In the New Hampshire Senate race, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen's second TV ad suggests that Sen. John Sununu (R) is doing the bidding of oil companies instead of putting voters first. And the League of Conservation Voters, an environmental advocacy group, has run TV spots in the Colorado Senate race emphasizing Republican Rep. Bob Schaffer's connections to oil companies.

Some lawmakers and candidates, however, are seeking a middle ground on energy policy. A "Gang of 10" senators -- 5 Democrats and 5 Republicans -- have been meeting in hopes of crafting a compromise package of legislation that will increase production by expanding drilling but also enforce higher conservation standards. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., one of the lawmakers working on the deal, boasts in her first TV ad of the cycle about securing "over $40 billion in offshore oil and gas revenue" for her petroleum-rich state. And Senate hopeful Mark Warner (D) of Virginia suggests in his latest spot that he would be willing to look at expanded drilling as part of a comprehensive energy plan that also includes more investment in alternative energy.