From March, not an election sale.
That oil sold for about $100 a barrel.
http://www.spr.doe.gov/doeec/TestSale14/Successful_Awards_Report.pdf
It takes a while for the prices to adjust and things to get going. And the article talk about the same thing happening in 2011. It sets up the market for customers to be happy with the current administration in regard to energy policy (for the uninformed.)
The more oil available , the lower the prices. I am not saying that the article posted here is incorrect, I am saying that election related price manipulation is also a factor in the recent drop in gas prices.