McCain shrugs off Smith’s lack of support on energy policy

U.S. Sen. Gordon SmithA spokesman for the McCain campaign said Tuesday that McCain has not been concerned about U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s opposition to his energy policy.

“Not everyone is going to agree,” said McCain campaign spokesman Rick Gorka. “But at the end of the day America needs leaders with a bold new energy policy, and McCain is offering that.”

McCain has advocated for lifting the federal moratorium on offshore drilling in order to increase domestic fuel production. President Bush lifted the executive ban in June, but Congress would need to follow suit in order for drilling to commence.

Smith (R-Pendleton), who is a national campaign committee member for McCain’s election effort, has come out against the policy, but he has yet to specify why. His campaign did not return requests for further information as to why he has parted ways with McCain on this issue.

Offshore drilling is a tough sell in Oregon, where a poll conducted last week revealed that 50 percent of Oregonians believe that saving the environment is more important than lowering the cost of fuel. Regardless, Smith will leave McCain on his own to convince Oregonians as to the importance of tapping domestic oil resources. But Gorka dismissed any notion that McCain was bitter about having to go it alone in the Beaver State.

“Senator McCain sees gas prices going through the roof,” said Gorka. “He believes in this policy because he believes in helping the American people both short and long term.”