(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Adults in the United States are open to further oil exploration off the coasts of California and Florida, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 68 per cent of respondents think drilling should be allowed in offshore oil wells off the coasts of these and other states.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Adults in the United States are open to further oil exploration off the coasts of California and Florida, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 68 per cent of respondents think drilling should be allowed in offshore oil wells off the coasts of these and other states.
In addition, 62 per cent of respondents believe the price of gas is likely to go down if drilling in offshore oil wells is allowed.
In April 2005, U.S. president George W. Bush declared, "I wish I could simply wave a magic wand and lower gas prices tomorrow; I’d do that. Unfortunately, higher gas prices are a problem that has been years in the making."
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached $4.11 U.S. in July 2008—the highest level ever recorded by the American Automobile Association. Earlier this month, the price stood at $1.90 U.S.
Earlier this year, Bush lifted a White House ban on offshore drilling, declaring, "This exploration is now banned by a provision included in the annual interior appropriations bill. When Congress returns they should remove this restriction so we can get these vast oil resources from the ocean floor to your gas tank." On Oct. 1, the congressional ban on offshore oil drilling expired.
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. On Nov. 4, Democratic nominee Barack Obama secured a majority of electoral votes, defeating Republican candidate John McCain. Obama will become the first African American president in U.S. history when he takes over from Bush—who served two four-year terms—on Jan. 20, 2009.
Earlier this month, William Kovacs, vice-president for the Environment, Technology & Regulatory Affairs Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, discussed the current state of affairs, saying, "We need to drill [for oil and gas] immediately on the outer continental shelf and then take those [royalties] and invest them in alternative technologies."
Polling Data
Should drilling be allowed in offshore oil wells off the coasts of California, Florida, and other states?
|
Yes |
68% |
|
No |
20% |
|
Not sure |
12% |
If drilling in offshore oil wells is allowed, how likely is it that the price of gas will go down?
|
Very likely |
33% |
|
Somewhat likely |
29% |
|
Not very likely |
23% |
|
Not at all likely |
8% |
|
Not sure |
7% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 likely American voters, conducted on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
