Gas tax holiday could be a potent issue in Ore. primary

But Democratic U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a superdelegate who's backing Obama, considers it unlikely such a windfall tax would pass in Congress. He doubts consumers would see much relief in any case.

"There's a lot of bull being thrown around about a gas tax holiday," Bluemenauer said in a campaign video released this past week.

Still, the gas tax holiday proposal found favor among motorists who showed up at a Salem filling station this week where regular gasoline was going for $3.59 a gallon.

Elisabeth Davidson, a 30-year-old Salem resident who has a 3-year-old son, said she's adjusted for the high prices by curbing the number of trips she takes around town. She only buys a limited amount of gas each time. On this day, she bought $20 worth.

"That way, it doesn't seem so bad as going 50 bucks a pop" to fill the tank, she said.

As for Clinton's gas tax holiday, Davidson said, "People are really worried about gas prices. So any way you can ease the burden would be good."

Another motorist, Dolores Johnson, said the high cost of gas already is putting a pinch on her household budget and that she's bracing for even higher costs.

"It's a Band-Aid, but we've got to do something to get relief for people," Johnson said of Clinton's plan.

Obama's disapproval of the gas tax holiday drew agreement from one motorist, bartender Charles Williams, who shelled out $50 to top off a half-empty tank.

As painful as gas prices have become, he said, Clinton's plan really would not be much help to most people.