CNN Energy poll and analysis

I was flipping through CNN’s website and came across the “Solving the energy crisis: You decide” link, so I decided to see what people were saying.  Now this is a non-scientific on-line poll, so I wouldn’t read too much into it.  However, with over 26,000 people responding, I think it should be close to the public view.  So, let’s see what the people are saying and how it is matching up with the two main candidates positions.

Question 1 – Expanding domestic drilling is:
a good idea (58%)
a bad idea (42%)
Advantage McCain

Question 2 – Limiting Wall Street money flowing into oil markets is:
 a good idea (50%)
 a bad idea (50%)
Tie

Question 3 – A windfall profits tax on Big Oil:
 a good idea (41%)
 a bad idea (59%)
Advantage McCain

Question 4 – Enacting a ‘cap and trade’ plan
 a good idea (63%)
 a bad idea (37%)
Advantage Obama

Question 5 – Creating an Apollo project for renewable energy
 a good idea (86%)
 a bad idea (14%)
Advantage Obama

Question 6 – Getting serious about conservation
 a good idea (91%)
 a bad idea (9%)
Advantage Obama

Question 7 – Using more biofuels
 a good idea (44%)
 a bad idea (56%)
Advantage McCain

Question 8 – Tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
 a good idea (15%)
 a bad idea (85%)
Advantage McCain

Question 9 – Suspending the gas tax
 a good idea (15%)
 a bad idea (85%)
Advantage Obama

Question 10 – Lifting the ethanol tariff
 a good idea (76%)
 a bad idea (24%)
Advantage McCain

Question 11 – Requiring utilities to buy renewable power
 a good idea (79%)
 a bad idea (21%)
Advantage Obama

Question 12 – Easing refining restrictions
 a good idea (55%)
 a bad idea (45%)
Advantage McCain

Question 13 – Building more nuclear plants
 a good idea (79%)
 a bad idea (21%)
Advantage McCain

With 13 questions, McCain leads 7 to 5 (with 1 tie).  This shows where the two candidates need to focus on their strengths within this issue if they are going to win the election.  The economy and energy are intertwined to be the single most important issue this election year.

Interestingly enough, Nancy Pelosi is making some strange comments regarding energy which seems to be out of touch with the public:

Today, the New Direction Congress will vote on legislation to bring down gas prices by taking crucial steps to curb excessive speculation in the energy futures market. The President himself could lower prices by drawing down a small portion of our government oil stockpile, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The New Direction Congress will continue to bring forth responsible proposals to increase supply, reduce prices, protect consumers, and transition America to a clean, renewable energy independent future.

Well, Pelosi, the people do not want you to play around with Wall Street or tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.  She seems to have forgotten that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is designed for emergencies (such as an interruption to the oil supply) and that the oil used has to be replaced, meaning gas prices will go up after dropping a few pennies.  Additionally, “responsible proposals to increase supply?”  How?  When?

The President … wants to say, ‘but for drilling in protected areas offshore, our economy would be thriving and the price of gas would be lower.’ That hoax is unworthy of the serious debate we must have to relieve the pain of consumers at the pump and to promote energy independence.

Creating jobs, cutting our international trade deficit, and increasing corporate tax revenue through sales isn’t a hoax.  It’s “unworthy of the serious debate” because enough Democrats are siding with the Republicans and the general public calling for increased drilling, and that would put a victory on a major issue in the pocket of McCain, and could help him win the election in November.  We’re not stupid, Pelosi.

Related articles:
Market Watch – “Pelosi: Bush Drilling Proposal a Hoax Unworthy of Serious Debate on Gas Prices”
CNN Money – “Solving the energy crisis: You decide”
The BoBo Files – “No Good News Coming out of DC Today!”