Sunday morning political rewind

(LIN) – Election 2012 heated up as the president and vice president took some shots at a bustling field of GOP candidates.

The first shot across the bow came on Thursday when President Barack Obama spoke about energy and gas prices.

“Every time prices start to go up, especially in an election year, politicians dust off their three-point plans for $2 gas,” Obama said at a campaign stop Thursday.

“We’ve heard this kind of thinking before,” Obama continued.  “Let me tell you something: If some of these folks were around when Columbus set sail, they must have been founding members of the ‘Flat-Earth Society.”

These attacks from the commander in chief are likely aimed towards 2012 presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.

On the trail, Gingrich advocates for a series of initiatives that would help drive the price of gas down to $2.50 per gallon.

A popular idea, considering the national average for a gallon of gas is $3.83.

“There's a very strong positive reaction to the idea of having American energy independence using federal land, and offshore to produce enough oil to get the price of gasoline down below $2.50,” Gingrich said about his plan.

Obama’s senior campaign adviser David Axelrod is skeptical of the idea.

"That's not oil talk, but snake oil talk," Axelrod said Sunday.

Still, the rising prices and Republican energy plans are forcing the White House on the defensive. The subject of energy has been the focus of Obama’s weekly addresses for four straight weeks.

Vice President Joe Biden waded into election 2012 with charges against Republican contenders on Thursday in Ohio.

In a speech to union auto workers, Biden said Obama’s insistence on bailing out General Motors helped the industry to survive.

“The president and I made a bet. A simple bet. We bet on you, we bet on American ingenuity. We bet on you, and we won,” the vice president said.

Biden’s speech was likely leveled at GOP frontrunner former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., who wrote an op-ed opposing the bailout.

Romney made an appearance on Fox Sunday to comment on the president’s energy policy.

“This gas hike trio has to be fired,” Romney said referring to members of Obama’s cabinet. “I’m seeing more and more people who can’t afford to fill up the car.”