Sensing an increasingly favorable political issue, House Minority Leader John Boehner and ten Republican freshmen will travel to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge late next week to highlight the need for new energy exploration. The trip follows a group of five Republican challengers who will visit the Arctic Circle earlier in the week to highlight their own support for drilling in the region.

Boehner's group will stop first at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, before heading to Alaska, as part of what Republicans are calling their "all of the above" energy plan aimed at reducing gas prices.

Republicans have found new political life in what had been a losing political issue as gas prices continue to climb past the $4 a gallon mark. Democrats have long hammered the GOP for voting in favor of big oil companies, but recent polls show concern over gas prices and support for new energy exploration growing among voters. "Policies not widely embraced when gasoline was $2 per gallon -- such as oil exploration on a tiny patch of Alaska's vast North Slope -- now enjoy the American people's overwhelming support in the face of $4 per gallon gas," Boehner said in a statement announcing the trip.

He will be joined by Reps. Michele Bachmann, of Minnesota, Gus Bilirakis, of Florida, Mary Fallin, of Oklahoma, Dean Heller, of Nevada, Ohio's Jim Jordan and Bob Latta, Colorado's Doug Lamborn, California's Kevin McCarthy, Nebraska's Adrian Smith and newly-elected Steve Scalise, of Louisiana. Of the ten freshmen, only Bachmann is expected to face a close race, though national Democrats are excited about Heller's opponent. Lamborn faces what could be a difficult primary fight.

Still, at a time when Republicans are struggling to find a winning political issue, gas prices and new exploration could be key to salvaging at least a few seats in Congress. Democrats have used the energy crisis effectively so far, but if Republicans can find a toehold, spending a weekend in Alaska might be the first step towards claiming newly favorable terrain.