This is not a drill…
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GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann has started her media push to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Bachmann was in Alaska over the weekend (with several other House GOP members) to look at ANWR and whether the U.S. should allow oil drilling there.
Bachmann just wrote an op-ed for the National Review saying ANWR is "a treasure trove of energy that will yield a lot with only minimal intrusion."
Bachmann will also be on Fox News tomorrow morning and will hold a conference call with reporters to talk about her trip.
Bachmann and the House GOP may have hit a gusher (sorry, had to do it) with the calls for increased drilling. Polling shows that Americans support drilling in ANWR and in U.S. coastal waters over increased conservation.
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The question is whether the plan will result in lower gas prices (which is what Americans really want)? CNN takes a look at whether drilling in ANWR is a solution or a distraction.
More importantly, Will it happen? It's unlikely since both John McCain and Barack Obama don't support drilling in ANWR. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman (who doesn't support drilling in ANWR) also told reporters last month that it was unlikely:
"Whether I reconsider my position or not, I just don't see ANWR being opened up. The debate has gone on too long. The divisions are too wide. The reality is 'Where can we find common ground?"
Coleman has called for increased drilling off the coastal waters. He said that that they "won't have to do the ANWR debate" if they allow drilling on the outer continential shelf.
So here's a question for blog readers: Will drilling in ANWR be an issue in the upcoming election? If so, will it be a game changer for the GOP?
