Prometheus 6

For President Bush to call for an end to the ban seemed helpful enough to New Jersey Democrats — for Mr. McCain to take the same position may be a bonanza.

Then again, there’s a good chance that Mr. McCain and his advisers never took very seriously the talk of his carrying New Jersey, and that his strategy is aimed at solidifying support in red states where Republicans are dismayed over the high price of gasoline. Mr. Bush’s call for an end to the federal ban may be part of his effort to ease the way for future development for the oil companies before he leaves office.

Whatever the motivation, the talk of ending the moratorium does not augur well for New Jersey Republicans.

McCain’s Latest Trouble in New Jersey: Oil Drilling
By The Editorial Board

This is the time of year, every four years, when the Republican Party looks at the polls in New Jersey and decides it might have a chance to capture the Garden State’s 15 electoral votes.

Although the polls are often close, this has been a tough state for Republicans to win presidential and U.S. Senate races in lately.

Just as this talk began to heat up again–after polls showing John McCain running decently in the state–the GOP’s chances in New Jersey have taken a wallop, delivered by the candidate himself.