McCain backs Bush move on lifting offshore oil ban

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Monday he backed President George W. Bush's lifting of a ban on offshore oil drilling.

"I think it's a very important signal to lift the ban on offshore drilling. I know that (Democratic) Sen. (Barack) Obama is opposed to lifting the ban on offshore drilling. I think the states should continue to decide."

He urged Obama to shift his position.

"I hope that, as he has on several other issues, that Sen. Obama will change his position and now support offshore oil drilling, because ... in the short term, it's important for us to have our own reserves as we transition to different kinds of energy. We need to have sufficient oil reserves off our coast to either reduce or at least cushion the increased costs of oil," McCain said.

(Reporting by Steve Holland)