Obama Now Open to Off-Shore Drilling

August 1, 2008— -- Barack Obama told a Florida newspaper Friday that he would be willing to compromise his opposition to off-shore drilling if that was necessary for a broader overhaul in the nation's energy policy.

"My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama told The Palm Beach Post.

"If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage -- I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done," said Obama.

Obama's softening of his opposition to expanded offshore drilling follows a concerted effort on the part of the GOP to portray the presumptive Democratic nominee as "Dr. No" on issues relating to the nation's energy supply.

Earlier this year, John McCain reversed himself and called for ending the federal ban on offshore oil and natural gas exploration so coastal states could decide whether to permit drilling.

Both presidential candidates spent Friday campaigning in Florida where the drilling issue was once taboo but is now gaining public support.

Obama is personally against expanded coastal drilling, believing that it would not provide tangible and immediate relief to consumers paying high gas prices. He also believes, as he reiterated on Friday, that the oil industry has not fully tapped the areas currently open to drilling.

The Palm Beach Post reports that Obama said he would consider "expanding the current drilling boundaries if it meant winning approval for more fuel-efficient cars, developing alternative energy sources and making the country more 'energy independent.'"

"The Republicans and the oil companies have been really beating the drums on drilling," Obama told The Palm Beach Post. "And so we don't want gridlock. We want to get something done."

The McCain campaign responded to Obama's interview by noting that the Illinois Democrat is still opposed to off-shore drilling even if he would go along with it as part of a broader compromise.

Protesters to Obama: "What about the black community, Obama?" LINK

Race & Celebrity
How O.J., Britney and Paris have made their way into the 08' campaign season. LINK

McCain Compares Obama to Moses
The McCain camp intensifies the ad war with a new ad calling Obama "The One." LINK

Joy: 'Bruni Is a Homewrecker'
"View" ladies debate dating married men. LINK

Kimmel: Obama's Counter Ad
Jimmy pokes fun at the controversy surrounding McCain's new ad. LINK

'The Note' Rewinds the Week's Best Moments
ABC News' Senior Political Reporter Rick Klein on the weekly political roundup. LINK

France's First Lady
Carla Bruni discusses her controversial past and new role as Sarkozy's wife. LINK

David Axelrod's Democratic Opinion
Obama's chief strategist addresses role of race in campaign. LINK

Rick Davis' Republican Perspective
McCain's campaign manager pledges to run a respectable campaign. LINK

Who's Playing the Race Card?
Obama and McCain argue about the role of race in the election. LINK

Playing the Race Card in Politics
Both Republicans and Democrats are accusing the other of using race as an issue. LINK

Bill Clinton in Africa
The former president is on a goodwill tour of Africa. LINK

Rape in the Military
Nearly 60,000 female veterans reported being raped or assaulted since 2002. LINK