Again, good politics for his caucus is bad personal politics for the Majority Leader

While the gas tax suspension issue seemed to bounce off the Democratic and independent primary electorate as a gimmick, the issue of expanding drilling is obviously making some Democratic leaders sweat.

The likes of Newt Gingrich and John McCain are turning up the heat on Democrats, who are staunchly opposed to opening up oil fields in coastal and Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge regions.

Case in point: Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is now emphasizing that "Democrats are not against drilling," noting that there are currently 88 million acres available to oil exploration.

"Just to give you an idea of what that means," Hoyer said at his weekly briefing, "eighty-eight million acres is Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and most of Maryland is now available."

This is risky politics for Hoyer.

On the one hand, he must be getting negative feedback via caucus members or polling that shows the perception of Democratic inaction on increasing domestic production as a major liability in the fall.

On the other, this comes at a very bad time for him, personally. While his call are not out of line with what other Democrats are saying, it may be perceived wrongly by some in the base who are very, very angry with him over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act legislation passing in the Senate this week. If they read this as capitulation to Republican messaging, as those already angry with him will undoubtedly do, it could spell real trouble for his future in the Democratic leadership.

Hoyer faces no real threat in his home district, but around the country, anti-Hoyer forces may start putting pressure on dozens of members to oust him as Majority Leader after the November elections.

In such a battle, his newfound friendship with Fourth district Rep. Donna Edwards could be the most important one he has in the entire state delegation.