McCain Calls For Lifting Ban on Offshore Drilling

I just came back from a John McCain press conference in which he called for lifting a ban on offshore drilling for oil and natural gas to help cut our dependence on foreign imports. Instead of being decided at the federal level, he said individual states should be permitted to decided whether or not to allow drilling, and under what conditions. 

Some More highlights from the McCain presser:

 — Renewed his call for town hall debates with Barack Obama, which he called, "the essence of democracy," and no doubt to the joy of conservatives, said he would be willing to hold one in front of La Raza.

 — Hit Obama on Iraq, noting that the surge strategy Obama opposed is a success. He said reminded reporters that we're approaching the 900^th day since Obama last visited Iraq, and suggested that Obama meet with Gen. Petraeus.

— He said he would win over Reagan Democrats by emphasizing lower taxes and strong national defense, and said, in an obvious reference to Obama, that he wouldn't suggest that small town Americans were clinging to guns and religion because they're bitter about their economic circumstances.

— Recognized that Virginia was a "rapidly changing state" that he wasn't taking lightly. He said that his campaign saw an opportunity in the Tidewater region, where he was stationed at one point in his Naval career, and where there is a large military vote.

–Asked about whether he has anger management issues, McCain noted his record of bipartisanship, and said that yes, pork barrel spending and political corruption makes him angry, as it does the American people.

–Emphasized that his campaign had a lot of work to do, and said, "I consider myself an underdog."

— Asked whether he would support the U.S. leaving Iraq if that's what the Iraqi government wants, he said he hadn't contemplated that possibility because it wouldn't happen. He said this was reinforced by his recent meeting with the Iraqi foreign minister.