McCain Camp Sees Energy As Winning Issue
CBSNews.com Reports: Under Fire For Being Too Reactive In Battle With Obama, McCain Goes On Offensive On Gas Prices
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Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accompanied by his wife Cindy, speaks to reporters during a tour of the Red Ribbon Ranch Oil Lease, San Joaquin Facilities Management Inc., Monday, July 28, 2008 in Bakersfield, Calif. (AP)
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If you're looking for someone to blame for high gas prices, John McCain's campaign is happy to help.
In a television ad released by the campaign last week, "Pump," an announcer criticizes Barack Obama for "saying no" to offshore drilling and "independence from foreign oil."
"Who can you thank for rising prices at the pump?," she asks - after which a photo of Obama appears onscreen.
The spot has been derided by USA Today as "baloney" for laying the blame for high gas prices solely at Obama's feet, and Obama responded with an ad of his own in which an exasperated-sounding announcer suggests McCain blaming Obama for gas prices represents "the same old politics."
The McCain campaign has increasingly focused on gas prices and energy in recent days: In addition to two ads discussing the topic (here's the second one, released Wednesday), there have been conference calls to stress the short-term impact of McCain's proposals and a Monday photo op at a Bakersfield, California oil rig. There McCain sang the praises of expanded offshore drilling, which Obama opposes, and once again knocked Obama as "the Dr. No of America's energy future."
Republicans believe that the McCain campaign, which has been criticized for being overly reactive in its battle with Obama, has finally found an issue on which it can successfully go on the offensive.
"This is the first time the Republicans have felt upbeat and optimistic about a major issue in a long time," said Republican strategist Scott Reed. "McCain has framed the issue well, with solutions and a sharp contrast to Obama, and in Congress, Republicans seem to be rallying around this issue. They feel Democrats have boxed themselves in a corner."
"I think it's one of the best issues they have," said GOP strategist Ed Rollins, who ran Mike Huckabee's campaign. "So much in the McCain campaign has been small and sort of nitpicky, and this is a substantive issue that shows that he has strength and some vision, which I think is very, very important."
In a move seemingly designed to help put the issue in the spotlight, President George W. Bush recently lifted the presidential moratorium on offshore drilling - a largely symbolic move since Congress has its own ban. At a press conference Wednesday morning, Mr. Bush pressed the legislative body to allow for drilling to help ease high gas prices.
The American people appear to be moving in McCain's direction on the issue: A Pew survey released at the beginning of this month found that support for energy exploration is at its highest point of the decade. The survey also found that while just 22 percent of liberals said expanded exploration was their top energy priority (ahead of conservation) in February, that figure had jumped to 45 percent by June.
Earlier this month, Democratic strategist James Carville and pollster Stan Greenberg released findings that six-in-ten voters favor McCain's offshore drilling proposal. They suggested Obama and the Democrats "have not yet advanced a compelling narrative" on energy and gas prices.
In addition, support for building new nuclear power plants, another proposal supported by McCain, is at its highest point in more than 30 years - 57 percent of respondents in a recent CBS News/New York Times poll (PDF) indicated they supported building new plants.
Obama's energy plan "would force the oil companies to drill in the areas they’ve already leased, provide every American family with an immediate energy rebate and a middle-class tax cut worth $1,000, and invest $150 billion in renewable sources of energy that will create 5 million jobs and replace the oil we import from the Middle East by 2025," according to Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan. Obama's new ad speaks of the candidate's plan to "crack down on oil speculators, raise mileage standards and fast track alternative fuels."
In a broad sense, according to Bruce Bullock, the director of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University, "the mechanisms that Obama offers are more government oriented, whereas the mechanisms that McCain is talking about tend to be more incentive based towards the market."
The rival campaigns have been squabbling about which candidate offers short-term relief for Americans struggling with high gas prices. Though the McCain campaign acknowledges that offshore drilling won't result in an increase in the oil supply for a number of years, McCain economic advisor Martin Feldstein argued this week that "policies that affect long term-supply, like the McCain strategies for increasing exploration and production...have an immediate impact on today's prices."
The Obama team, meanwhile, dismisses McCain plans as doing nothing "to alleviate the crisis of the moment," in the words of Democratic Senator Bill Bradley, who characterize McCain's proposals as "pandering." In an earlier ad, the Obama campaign tied McCain's energy policy to that of President Bush and suggested McCain is "part of the problem."
Economist Gary Burtless of the Brookings Institution said the McCain camp's argument that McCain's long-term proposals could have a short-term impact on prices is legitimate, though he said his "suspicion is that the impact would be very, very small."
Asked if there were any significant short-term solutions being offered by either candidate when it comes to high gas prices, Burtless said, "If you define a short-term solution as returning the U.S. to the price we were at five years ago, or even one year ago, I don't think there is anything practical on the horizon."
SMU's Bullock said that while both candidates' proposals "have some merit" - he points to Obama's emphasis on investments in alternative energy and McCain's push to increase supply - they are both offering "gimmicks" as well. (Among them, he says, are Obama's proposal for a windfall profits tax on oil companies and McCain's proposed gas tax holiday.)
"I don't think we can produce our way out of this, and I don't think we can conserve our way out of this," Bullock said.
In the latest CBS News/New York Times poll, voters indicated that they are largely on the same page as the economists, with the majority suggesting that neither candidate's policies will reduce gas prices anytime soon - though Obama had a slight edge over McCain among those who believed the candidates could do so.
Nonetheless, Republicans believe they are winning the perception battle on energy, and both President Bush and Congressional Republicans have begun spotlighting the issue. McCain senior advisor and spokesman Taylor Griffin promised that McCain will continue to press the issue, arguing that Obama "refuses to embrace real solutions."
"It's important for McCain to show his action plan for domestic issues," Reed said. "The rap on McCain is he didn't have much on the economy, but the truth is for the last two months he's pretty much owned the energy issue. He has found a political niche, and he's filled it."
By Brian Montopoli
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.





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See all 1377 CommentsHis speech was truly radical, from an American perspective.
Having earlier proclaimed himself "a fellow citizen of the world" Obama explained that the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Europe proved "that there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one."
Perhaps Obama needs a remedial course in Cold War history, but the Berlin Wall most certainly did not come down because "the world stood as one."
The wall fell because of a decades-long, existential struggle against one of the greatest totalitarian ideologies mankind has ever faced. It was a struggle in which strong and determined U.S. leadership was constantly questioned, both in Europe and by the senator''''s own Democratic Party. The successes Obama refers to in his speech -- the defeat of Nazism, the Berlin airlift and the collapse of communism -- were all gained by strong alliances defeating determined opponents of freedom, not by "one-worldism."
But beyond the incoherence, there is a deeper problem, namely that "walls" exist not simply because of a lack of understanding about who is on the other side but because there are true differences in values and interests that lead to human conflict. That is knowledge Obama knows very little about.
Sometimes it does come down to knowledge and experiance when applying for a really BIG job.
"New YouTube Video Shows McCain Hypocrisy on Yucca Mountain and Nuclear Waste
McCain Wants to Stick Nevada with Thousands of Tons of Dangerous Waste But %u2018Wouldn%u2019t Be Comfortable%u2019 with Waste Going Through Arizona"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPlaHQCKc34
Industry Gushed Money After Reversal on Drilling
"Campaign contributions from oil industry executives to Sen. John McCain rose dramatically in the last half of June, after the senator from Arizona made a high-profile split with environmentalists and reversed his opposition to the federal ban on offshore drilling.
Oil and gas industry executives and employees donated $1.1 million to McCain last month -- three-quarters of which came after his June 16 speech calling for an end to the ban -- compared with $116,000 in March, $283,000 in April and $208,000 in May."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/26/AR2008072601891.html
McCain Voted Against Reducing Dependence On Foreign Oil. In 2005, McCain voted against legislation calling on the President to submit a plan to reduce foreign petroleum imports by 40 percent. [Senate Roll Call Vote #140, 6/16/05]
http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00140
In 2005, McCain Voted Against A Windfall Profit Tax On Oil Companies At Least Twice. McCain voted against a measure that would have provided an income tax rebate to Americans by taxing enormous oil company profits temporarily on an sale of crude above $40 a barrel. [S 2020, Vote #331, 11/17/05; S 2020, Vote # 341, 11/17/05
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00331
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00341
It''s just amazing what a pander bear McCain has become.
It''s kind of like "Maverick" turned into "Winnie the Pooh".
All Pelosi, Reid and Obama care about is this fantasy that they are saving the world from those crude and nasty oil companies that want to drill.
All Pelosi, Reid and Obama care about is this fantasy that they are saving the world from those crude and nasty oil companies that want to drill.
McCain Now: McCain Called For Lifting The Off Shore Drilling Moratorium. During a press availability in Arlington Virginia, John McCain called for a lifting of the federal moratorium on offshore drilling. McCain said, %u201CI think that%u2019s a subject of negotiation and discussion. But right now, as you know there%u2019s a moratorium. And those moratorium, in my view, moratoria, have to be lifted. And they have to be lifted so that states can make those decisions. I%u2019m not dictating to the states that they drill or they engage in oil exploration. I am saying that the moratoria should be lifted so they have the opportunity to do so. And by the way, I would also like to see perhaps additional incentives if the states, in the form of tangible financial rewards if the states decide to lift those moratoria.%u201D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbP5JSTM85g
McCain Then: McCain Voted Against Off-Shore Drilling At Least Three Times, and Twice Supported Florida Efforts To Prevent Drilling Off Their Coasts. [H.R. 6, Vote #143, 6/21/05]S. 14, Vote #221, 6/12/03][H.R. 2788, Vote #241, 10/7/89]
McFlip
McFlop
He has changed his mind on offshore drilling.
He blamed Obama for the price of gas being so high.
He praised george bush for bringing down the price of oil.
"I''m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated." John Mccain
"The issue of economics is not something I''ve understood as well as I should. I''ve got Greenspan''s book." John mccain
With his perspective and economic ability do you really think oil policy is a winning strategy?
Why are you copy and pasting opinion pieces? Do you not possess the intellect to post your own opinions?
All Pelosi, Reid and Obama care about is this fantasy that they are saving the world from those crude and nasty oil companies that want to drill.
Posted by andylance1 at 08:36 AM : Jul 30, 2008
So you OPPOSE our energy independence, and believe we should STAY addicted to oil?
Please don''t copy and paste a pundint like Rush, or Bill they are pisssed that the Repulbicans lost power and are going to face a blood bath in 2008.
Try to come up with something on your own.
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Posted by hungry1968 at 08:43 AM : Jul 30, 2008
So you support our continuing to send billions of dollars to the Sheiks instead of drilling our own oil and putting big oil money into America!
McFlip
McFlop
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Posted by hungry1968
Funny isn''t it? McCain sees this country is in a pickle and has changed his stance to try to find a solution to the problem!
Obscamma''s solution....keep on HOPING that a solution is going to materialize and maybe some fairy will wave a magic wand and we won''t need oil anymore!
PS. To Hungry''s comment: Sometimes people neglect to read good information that would provide them with reality instead of the media''s attempt to provide biased, uninformed nonsense. I dignified your comment with a response only because you are one of those who would rather fight an ignornant cause than actually support the truth.
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Posted by realpatriot1 at 08:38 AM : Jul 30, 2008
You mean that OIL PUMP? lol Geezus!
No doubt, Obama is an energetic dynamo while McCain is just a tired old man. Energy will win this election.
Posted by WellHell3
I would call it political opportunism. 24 years of the same position, 2 years of extremely high gas and he chooses to change his position right after obama got the nomination
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Posted by bckrd1 at 08:55 AM : Jul 30,
What a bunch of bull spit! We have about 7 billion gas driven vehicles in this country! Whose magic wand is going to turn those vehicles into burning alternative fuels tonight while we sleep!
Congress has the ability to pass an energy law that says American oil will be sold in America!
Let''s just keep pouring billions of dollars into the Sheiks in the Middle East while they get stronger and stronger! In the meanwhile, we have visions of sugar plumbs dancing in our head about not needing oil and gasoline anymore!
Strange isn''t it? Obscamma FULLY SUPPORTED *** Cheney''s energy bill, and got paid resounding for it with donations from oil and energy executives pouring donations into his campaign funds.
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Posted by bckrd1 at 08:55 AM
So you want to do nothing and ensure that our children will deal with this again in 10 to 15 years? We already had democrats shoot down drilling years ago that could increase the supply today which would bring down the price of oil. The little town closest to Anwar want''s us to drill there! We realize that it will not come on line for years, that''s why we say drill now. Do you think India and China are going to conserve while their economies are booming? The demand is only going to go up in today''s world so we better be prudent and do EVERYTHING. I''m all for developing alternative energies, but am unwilling to shuck off a known source used by the rest of the world for decades to come.
Posted by WellHell3
When mccain flipped his position, a million dollars from oil executives came rolling in.
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Posted by nokoolaid at 09:05 AM : Jul 30, 2008
Good! Glad the oil and energy money are investing in McCain''s campaign for awhile instead of Obscamma''s! Since Obscamma pissed on his own campaign finance bill...McCain can certainly use the money!
When mccain flipped his position, a million dollars from oil executives came rolling in.
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Posted by zerato at 09:09 AM : Jul 30, 2008
Good! McCain needs the money since Obscamma pissed on his own campaign reform bill...and renigged on his screeching about it like the empty suit he is!
Sorry McGrandpa, but a tablespoon of Geritol every morning does not constitute an energy policy!
Posted by superdem
amen
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Posted by rafterman1 at 09:12 AM : Jul 30, 2008
They''ve already drilled 3,000 wells on that land. Makes sense to you, I guess, for them to invest money in drilling MUD?
Seems like they might want to drill where they know the oil is!
The combustion engine is basically the same as it was when Henry Ford put it on the assembly line. The diesel engine is as well, with one exception, Diesel powered his engine with peanut oil. Ethanol is *** unless it in a cold can or bottle of vino. Wind power is OK if it is done in remote locations away from migration zones - yes I like to hunt and bird watch. Solar energy is great but we need bright minds to help create cheap methods to capture it. Butanol might be feasible. Recycling your cans also helps. Put a little energy in to saving. It is easy and you might feel a little better about yourself. I also prefer the view of mountains and clean ocean to smoke stacks and scummy water.
Drilling equals more of the same and is a completely brainless and economically silly non-solution to our energy/gas price crisis.
And it is, for Obama.
That''s an unintentionally funny headline, by the way. McCain is 71 years old.
Posted by Ariel133
LOL! It hasn''t happened yet in spite of Roves best efforts, perhaps you can try replaying the Larry Sinclair card.
I say spend those billions on fast tracking vehicles like the GM volt....all the car companies are transitioning to build electric cars, I say fast track that and Build more windfarms.
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Posted by melchg at 09:18 AM : Jul 30, 2008
Yeah, let''s keep visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads! Now how many people do you think are going to buy a VOLT! Or even have the money to! I wouldn''t even give you two cents for a GM vehicle! How many YEARS do you want to continue this farce while we send billions to the Sheiks and they get stronger and stronger!
As for the WIND FARMS, first you have to convince the the bird watchers that the birds don''t migrate through where they want to put the wind farms! Then you have to convince the wind farmers neighbors it''s a good idea...because their little artistic sensibilities don''t want to see wind turbines on their horizons. Reckon they could even form a committee on this in ten years and make a decision?
Posted by Ariel133
No one has caused more damage to the constitution than the idiot currently sitting in the White House. I can proudly say I didn''t vote for him either time, can you?
If we destroy the speculators and put American oil companies on notice that their days of manipulatinhg energy and foreign ploicy is over ... we are on our way to energy independence. Spend all the money that would have been spent to get this limited oil out of off-shore sites and put it into solar, wind, and other alternatives and by the time the oil would be ready to pump in 10-15 years we wouldn''t need it anyway. Again because of their greed the Republicans are putting their short-term interests ahead of America''s long-term interests.
Posted by erb0087
He''''ll need all the energy he can get come this fall. Obama has so many routes to take this thing. McCain will be running all over the country.
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Posted by melchg at 09:28 AM : Jul 30, 2008
Strange isn''t it? 76% of Americans want us to drill oil!
Especially when this vast majority figure a lions share of this money is being paid to America''s enemies under Sen. "Both Ways" Barak NObama plan, instead of to us, under John McCain''s plan.
But, it''s okay, we''ve watched your boys fail, one right behind the next....George McGovern, Walter Mondale, Jimmy Carter, Michael DooDooCockeye, Al Gore, HoChiMinh Kerry, and now Sen. "Both Ways" Barak NObama are just footnotes in America''s book of failures.
Seems like Obscamma will be running his tail off screeching his NONSENSE about not drilling!
The only reason Obscamma is screeching this ***** is so he has an issue to oppose! Too bad his campaign was to chicken ***** to propose it!
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