Gas tax battle was a political gift to Obama

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - The heated presidential campaign battle over a federal gas tax holiday turned out to be a much needed gift for Barack Obama -- and he can thank Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

The fight, which dominated the final days before the North Carolina and Indiana contests, gave him an opening to talk about the economy with working-class voters and helped Obama at least temporarily bury the controversy ...