McCain launches general election bid with eye on oil
(adds quotes from speech, background; previous NEW ORLEANS)
By Jeff Mason
KENNER, La., June 3 (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Tuesday he would break with the Bush administration and pursue alternative sources that will push the United States more strongly toward energy independence.
McCain, an Arizona senator who has wrapped up his party's White House nomination, criticized U.S. dependence on foreign oil and said he was the right person to bring about change -- taking on a mantle that his rival Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has made into a rallying cry.
"The next president must be willing to break completely with the energy policies not just of the Bush Administration, but the administrations that preceded his, and lead a great national campaign to put us on a course to energy independence," McCain said in a copy of prepared remarks he was to deliver later on Tuesday.
"No problem is more urgent today than America's dependence on foreign oil," he said, adding that the problem threatened the U.S. economy, its security, and the environment.
"We must unleash the creativity and genius of Americans, and encourage industries to pursue alternative, non-polluting and renewable energy sources, where demand will never exceed supply," McCain said.
Obama, who is close to beating rival Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, has repeatedly tied McCain to unpopular President George W. Bush.
McCain turned the argument around on Tuesday, saying Obama had voted for an energy bill promoted by Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. McCain did not vote for the bill.
'NATION'S INTERESTS BEFORE SPECIAL INTERESTS'
The Arizona senator also cited his plan to cut emissions and fight global warming as another area in which he has broken from Bush.
"If America is going to achieve energy independence, we need a president with a record of putting the nation's interests before the special interests of either party," McCain says. "I have that record. Senator Obama does not."
Both Obama and McCain have put forward plans that would cap U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and create an emissions trading system for factories and other big polluters. Obama has said his plan would be more effective than McCain's.
McCain, who has struggled for attention while the electorate focused on the Democratic duel between Obama and Clinton, sought to steal some of the spotlight on a night when Obama was expected to become the first black presidential nominee from either major U.S. party.
"He is an impressive man, who makes a great first impression," McCain says of Obama.
"But he hasn't been willing to make the tough calls, to challenge his party, to risk criticism from his supporters to bring real change to Washington. I have."
He also tipped his hat to Clinton with comments aimed to appeal to the New York senator's women supporters, some of whom have said they would support McCain rather than Obama.
"She deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes received," McCain said of the former first lady.
"As the father of three daughters, I owe her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe there is no opportunity in this great country beyond their reach. I am proud to call her my friend."
(Editing by Patricia Zengerle)
By Jeff Mason
KENNER, La., June 3 (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Tuesday he would break with the Bush administration and pursue alternative sources that will push the United States more strongly toward energy independence.
McCain, an Arizona senator who has wrapped up his party's White House nomination, criticized U.S. dependence on foreign oil and said he was the right person to bring about change -- taking on a mantle that his rival Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has made into a rallying cry.
"The next president must be willing to break completely with the energy policies not just of the Bush Administration, but the administrations that preceded his, and lead a great national campaign to put us on a course to energy independence," McCain said in a copy of prepared remarks he was to deliver later on Tuesday.
"No problem is more urgent today than America's dependence on foreign oil," he said, adding that the problem threatened the U.S. economy, its security, and the environment.
"We must unleash the creativity and genius of Americans, and encourage industries to pursue alternative, non-polluting and renewable energy sources, where demand will never exceed supply," McCain said.
Obama, who is close to beating rival Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, has repeatedly tied McCain to unpopular President George W. Bush.
McCain turned the argument around on Tuesday, saying Obama had voted for an energy bill promoted by Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. McCain did not vote for the bill.
'NATION'S INTERESTS BEFORE SPECIAL INTERESTS'
The Arizona senator also cited his plan to cut emissions and fight global warming as another area in which he has broken from Bush.
"If America is going to achieve energy independence, we need a president with a record of putting the nation's interests before the special interests of either party," McCain says. "I have that record. Senator Obama does not."
Both Obama and McCain have put forward plans that would cap U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and create an emissions trading system for factories and other big polluters. Obama has said his plan would be more effective than McCain's.
McCain, who has struggled for attention while the electorate focused on the Democratic duel between Obama and Clinton, sought to steal some of the spotlight on a night when Obama was expected to become the first black presidential nominee from either major U.S. party.
"He is an impressive man, who makes a great first impression," McCain says of Obama.
"But he hasn't been willing to make the tough calls, to challenge his party, to risk criticism from his supporters to bring real change to Washington. I have."
He also tipped his hat to Clinton with comments aimed to appeal to the New York senator's women supporters, some of whom have said they would support McCain rather than Obama.
"She deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes received," McCain said of the former first lady.
"As the father of three daughters, I owe her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe there is no opportunity in this great country beyond their reach. I am proud to call her my friend."
(Editing by Patricia Zengerle)
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