The state chairman for Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign spoke with the media in advance of Democratic candidate Barack Obama’s appearance in Iowa today. David Roederer says there’s a clear difference in the energy policies of the two candidates.
Roederer says one of the biggest differences between the two is over off-shore drilling for oil, as he says McCain has supported offshore drilling and supports the president’s move to lift the ban on offshore drilling. Roederer says since the president took action, the price of a barrel of oil has dropped 20 dollars.
Roederer says McCain understands the need for new forms of energy, but also knows it will take some time to develop them and offshore drilling will help the situation now. He says Obama takes the opposite stance on drilling. Roederer says unfortunately Senator Obama continues to oppose offshore drilling and feels that the American people are just going to have to continue paying higher gas prices until the new energy comes on-line.
McCain’s campaign has been running ads criticizing Obama’s stance on offshore drilling, and also criticize him for wanting to raise taxes on electricity and natural gas. Obama’s campaign is running a counter add that says the claim about raising taxes is untrue. Roederer stands by the claim.
Roederer says he has not seen the specific ad, so he can’t talk about it, "I do know that Senator Obama, has in fact called for the taxes on both coal and natural gas." Roederer was asked about predictions that offshore drilling will take years to bring in more oil. He says the predictions vary on how long it will take, but Roederer says it’s already been shown the impact on oil prices is immediate.
Roederer says the way oil prices are set are based on preception and what is going to happen long term, and he predicts there will be an increase in production of oil in the Mideast. Obama met with flood victims in Cedar Rapids this morning and then is holding what’s being billed as an economic town hall meeting at Kirkwood Community College. McCain is expected to visit Iowa on August 8th and make an appearance at the Iowa State Fair.