As I pointed out on Planet Gore yesterday, the U.S. needs a real energy policy which includes accessing all of the resources at our disposal in order to increase domestic oil production. According to a new poll done by Rasmussen Reports, Americans wholeheartedly agree:

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey — conducted before McCain announced his intentions on the issue — finds that 67% of voters believe that drilling should be allowed off the coasts of California, Florida and other states. Only 18% disagree and 15% are undecided. Conservative and moderate voters strongly support this approach, while liberals are more evenly divided (46% of liberals favor drilling, 37% oppose).

Even more delicious, an overwhelming majority agrees that this would act to bring down prices:

Sixty-four percent (64%) of voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that gas prices will go down if offshore oil drilling is allowed, although 27% don’t believe it. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of conservatives say offshore drilling is at least somewhat likely to drive prices down. That view is shared by 57% of moderates and 50% of liberal voters.

So it appears that Democrats in Congress, as well as presidential nominee Barack Obama, do not share the views of most Americans as it pertains to energy policy. Color me unsurprised. Of course, the big question moving forward is whether or not GOP presidential nominee John McCain can turn this into a successful campaign issue. Stay tuned.  Source