McCain seeks to void ban on offshore drilling

Resists voter push to endorse exploration in wildlife areas

By S.A. Miller (Contact) | Tuesday, June 17, 2008

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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain proposed lifting the federal ban on more offshore oil drilling Monday, but a new poll shows most voters want the government to go further by sinking oil wells in nationally protected wildlife areas.

The Fox 5/The Washington Times/Rasmussen Reports survey found that 53 percent of voters think the United States should start drilling for oil in nature preserves such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to reduce dependence on foreign crude.

About a third of Americans opposed the idea and 14 percent said they are not sure, according to the telephone survey conducted last week.

The campaigns acknowledge that high gas prices have become the dominant issue of the presidential race, with motorists paying an average of more than $4 per gallon, but neither the likely Democratic nor Republican presidential nominee agrees with drilling in wildlife preserves.

In a preview of a speech to be delivered Tuesday, Mr. McCain called for more oil exploration in the U.S. but said he does not want to go as far as drilling in off-limits federal lands. The speech will mark the start of a weeklong effort to draw distinctions on energy policy between the senator from Arizona and his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

Asked about his newfound embrace of some new drilling, Mr. McCain said he maintains that there should be limits, including federal lands now off-limits. "I believe ANWR is a pristine area," he said.

Mr. Obama repeatedly sided with environmentalists in Senate votes to oppose more domestic oil drilling. He ruled out drilling in ANWR, which he says would irreversibly damage pristine Alaskan landscape without producing enough oil to significantly reduce gasoline prices or improve U.S. energy security.

"John McCain's plan to simply drill our way out of our energy crisis is the same misguided approach backed by President Bush - the same approach that has failed our families and only serves to benefit the big oil companies," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan. "Barack Obama's plan offers comprehensive change that makes significant investments in alternative forms of energy to secure our energy independence, make energy more affordable for our families and protect our health and environment."

Proponents of drilling in ANWR have been close to success several times. In 1995, President Clinton vetoed a bill to open the reserve to drilling, and it fell victim to House-Senate bickering in 2005.

With voters feeling the pinch at the pump and energy prices expected to keep rising this year, drilling in protected nature settings won support from 72 percent of Republican voters, 36 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of voters not affiliated with a major party, according to the poll.

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