Jul 28 2008
Hayes Will Use Oil Issue
Two years ago, U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes of the 8th District defeated Larry Kissell by 329 votes. This is the first of a two-part series in Inside Politics looking at this year’s rematch. Next week’s column focuses on Kissell.
Robin Hayes says the No. 1 issue this election is not Iraq. It’s the skyrocketing cost of gasoline.
The Republican from Concord says one way to begin lowering energy costs is to open more areas in the U.S. to drilling. The five-term incumbent agrees with President Bush and this year’s presumptive GOP nominee, John McCain, who are calling for more drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
“My opponent won’t allow drilling,†Hayes said in a telephone interview.
Kissell wants oil companies to drill more on existing land leases — not in new areas of the country.
I think this will be a huge issue and Republicans as well as pro-drilling Democrats can capitalize on it. Most people really don’t understand how the oil markets work. They just know that the price of oil is skyrocketing and costing them at the pump. Politicians who run on a platform of opening up offshore drilling to increase supply and thus reduce the price will definitely hit home with the voters. Kissell is foolish to oppose this in my opinion. This isn’t an overwhelmingly left wing district and home to lots of extreme environmentalists that would support Kissell’s opposition to this.
Point of correction- the Fayetteville Observer incorrectly stated that John McCain supports drilling in ANWR.
Actually, he doesn’t. He’s wrong not to… but that’s his position. Did the Observer’s fact checker go on vacation this week?