All Blog Posts from From The Road

(NEW ORLEANS) John McCain paid a visit to an oil platform about 100 miles off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico today, which prompted Barack Obama’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee to accuse the Arizona senator of being in the pocket of big oil.

“He's standing with the oil companies in opposing a bipartisan compromise in Congress that would expand offshore drilling and, at the same time, make serious investments in alternative energy to break our dependence on foreign oil,” said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. “When it comes to solving our energy problems, John McCain is just more of the same and America can’t afford it.”

The DNC helped make the point by sending all of the members in the McCain press corps bumper stickers, oil drums, and buttons with the slogan “Exxon/McCain ’08” (you can check out the photo below).



The paraphernalia comes on the heels of the Republican National Committee sending members of the Obama press corps tire pressure gauges printed with “Obama Energy Plan.”

McCain maintains that offshore drilling is imperative to solve America’s dependence on foreign oil. “New drilling has to be part of our energy solution. It will not solve this problem alone. Alternative energy will not solve this problem alone. Conservation will not solve this problem alone. Solving our energy crisis requires an "all of the above" approach,” McCain said while standing on the deck of the offshore oil platform. “It also requires expanding traditional sources of energy like clean coal, nuclear power, and offshore drilling like that done on this rig.”

From CBS News’ John Bentley:

(RAPID CITY, S.D.) – "You know how we love to imitate the French," John McCain often says in the stump, segueing into his argument for more nuclear power plants because nearly 80 percent of France’s energy is generated by nuclear power, compared with less than 20 percent in the U.S. That’s why McCain will visit a nuclear plant just outside Detroit today to continue his call for alternative energy and for Congress to do something about it.

"I call on Sen. Obama to call on Congress to come back into town and come back to work," McCain said yesterday.

"Come off their vacation and address this energy crisis for America and don’t leave until you do. Republican and Democrat joining together. And a very vital part of that is nuclear power."

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(PITTSBURGH) Tackling high gas prices has been the dominant topic of Barack Obama’s three week economy tour and today was no different. Obama hosted an “Economic Competitiveness Summit” at Carnegie Mellon University featuring over a dozen high profile business leaders who he pressed on gas prices and developing alternative energy sources.

“On something as important as our energy policy, we will need the kind of leadership that John F Kennedy showed when he said America is going to the moon,” Obama told the group.

Panelist Rick Wagoner, the chairman of General Motoris, said GM will offer eight different hybrid models by the end of this year, but argued that developing biofuel technology is a better alternative. “If you really want to move and diversify our oil sources away from oil, using biofuels is the way we can do it fastest,” Wagoner said. He stressed that any shift to alternative energy will be very expensive for both companies and consumers.

General Jim Jones, CEO of the Institute for 21st Century Technology, argued that United States is less stable because of its foreign dependency on oil. He said that roughly 2/3 of U.S. oil and gas is in foreign hands; “We have to free ourselves from that weight and that influence.”

Obama proposed investing $150 billion in the green sector, intended in part to spark the development of alternative energy. In recent days, Obama said that he is unsure if gasoline will fall under $4/gallon anytime soon and stressed the need for energy reform.

“I don't have a crystal ball on oil prices, I think that, what we know is that over the next couple of decades, it is likely that the increase in demand is going to far outstrip the increase in supply and that’s going to put pressure on prices unless we start doing a better job of using oil and all fossil fuels in a smarter way," he said.

From CBS News' Jamie Farnsworth:

Las Vegas, NV – Senator John McCain unveiled the name of his energy project in Las Vegas today as he wrapped up the western swing of his two week energy tour. Deemed the Lexington Project, McCain’s plan states the U.S. will be independent of foreign energy sources by the year 2025.

“For the town where Americans asserted their independence once before,” McCain explained of the plan’s namesake in Virginia. “Let it begin today with this commitment: In a world of hostile and unstable suppliers of oil, this nation will achieve strategic independence by 2025."

McCain called for Americans to unite to complete this task in 17 years. “Much will be asked of industry as well, as automakers and others adapt to this great turn toward new sources of power,” he said. “A great deal will depend on each one of us, as we learn to make smarter use of energy, and also to draw on the best ideas of both parties, and work together for the common good.”

Foreseeing criticism, McCain listed many historical accomplishments achieved in less than 17 years—among them overthrowing Nazi Germany and landing on the moon.

“That is the scale of our achievement when we set our minds to a task,” he said. “That is what this country can do when we see a danger, and declare a purpose, and find the will to act.”

From CBS News' Jamie Farnsworth:

(LAS VEGAS) The sun creeps over the mountaintops outlining the infamous Vegas Strip where only a few hours ago Sen. John McCain’s campaign touched down. The senator kicks off his morning with a speech focused on energy, a theme the campaign has been spending time on lately.

Just yesterday, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama visited Sin City to push his own energy policy where he criticized McCain’s energy plan, calling it a “gimmick.” McCain hit back from Santa Barbara saying, “We have to embark on a mission that all Americans are apart of. Senator Obama has said basically no to all of -- or a majority of the proposals that have been made, not just by me, but others.”

Following his energy speech, McCain will attend two fundraisers and this afternoon will attend the opening of his 2008 Las Vegas Head Quarters office.

In a city famous for gambling and flashing lights, today seems to be just a regular stop on the campaign trail.

From CBS News' Clifden Kennedy:

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Sen. McCain said this afternoon, "the facts of global warming demand our urgent attention" and pledged to make federal government cars and offices buildings more energy efficient.

"From now on, we're going to make those civilian vehicles flex-fuel capable, plug-in hybrid, or cars fueled by clean natural gas," he said. "If our great goal is to move American transportation toward lower carbon emissions, then it should start with the federal fleet."

Sen. McCain offered his energy ideas before holding a round-table discussion at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

He also called for a redesign of the national power grid.

Read full post…

From CBS News' Clifden Kennedy:

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Sen. McCain said this afternoon, "the facts of global warming demand our urgent attention" and pledged to make federal government cars and offices buildings more energy efficient.

"From now on, we're going to make those civilian vehicles flex-fuel capable, plug-in hybrid, or cars fueled by clean natural gas," he said. "If our great goal is to move American transportation toward lower carbon emissions, then it should start with the federal fleet."

Sen. McCain offered his energy ideas before holding a round-table discussion at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

He also called for a redesign of the national power grid.

Read full post…

From CBS News' Clifden Kennedy:

(Fresno, California) Sen. John McCain distanced himself from controversial comments made by a senior adviser to a magazine Monday. Chief strategist Charlie Black told Fortune Magazine that another terrorist attack on U.S. soil would be a “big advantage to him.”

When asked about the remarks at a media avail, a seemingly flat-footed McCain said, “I cannot imagine why he would say it. It’s not true. I’ve worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prevent another attack on the United States of America. My record is very clear. The Armed Services Committee and pieces of legislation. Sponsoring with Joe Lieberman the 9/11 Commission so we could find out the causes and how to fix the challenges that we face to fix the security of our nation. I cannot imagine it. And, uh. So, I would … If he said that, and I do not know the context, I strenuously disagree.”

Black later told reporters, "I deeply regret the comments. They were inappropriate. I recognize that John McCain has devoted his entire adult life to protecting his country and placing its security before every other consideration. "

In a statement, Obama spokesperson Bill Burton said, "The fact that John McCain's top adviser says that a terrorist attack on American soil would be a 'big advantage' for their political campaign is a complete disgrace, and is exactly the kind of politics that needs to change.”

Earlier Monday, McCain focused mainly on energy at a speech and a town hall at the University of California Fresno. He said that “energy security is the great national challenge of our time,” and proposed a $300 million dollar government prize to develop a better battery to power electric cars. He issued a “Clean Car Challenge” to American automakers saying, “For every automaker who can sell a zero-emissions car, we will commit a $5,000 dollar tax credit for each and every customer who buys that car.”

Tuesday, McCain attends an environmental briefing at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

From CBS News' Clifden Kennedy:

(PHOENIX) Sen. John McCain will focus on energy as he swings through California on Monday. In prepared remarks for delivery at Cal State Fresno, he says that "energy security is the great national challenge of our time."

Promising to meet this challenge with action instead of just words, McCain says he plans to "produce more, conserve more, and invent more." Look for him to also call for the "swift conversion of American vehicles away from oil."

Hoping to inspire ingenuity in the American people, he hopes to offer a $300 million dollar prize (one dollar for every man, woman and child in the U.S.) for "the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars."

He'll also issue a "Clear Car Challenge" for American automakers —committing a $5,000 tax credit for each zero emissions car they sell.

McCain also has a town hall meeting and media avail in Fresno. Later in the day he heads to Santa Barbara for a finance event.