The candidates had a short back and forth on energy policy. Obama mentioned while he wants to “make sure we’re investing in energy … to solve this problem,” there “may be individual components we can’t do” because of a tighter budget.
Then McCain talked up his own energy ideas: “We have to have offshore drilling and we have to have nuclear power.” He then accused Obama of opposing nuclear energy. Well, Obama doesn’t really oppose nuclear — he’s just not the cheerleader for it that McCain has been. He’s said in the past that he thinks it should be part of the mix, but there are outstanding safety and waste disposal concerns.
McCain also said that “nuclear power is important not only in eliminating our dependence on foreign oil, but it’s import for climate change” – marking the first time either candidate has mentioned climate change tonight.
