President Obama heads to Florida today to promote his energy policy and defend his administration's strategy in the midst of sharply rising gas prices.

Administration officials said the president's speech at the University of Miami will build on his State of the Union address in which he called energy one of the four "pillars" for "an America built to last," and is not a direct response to any political heat Obama has been taking for the pain at the pump.

"The president will highlight his administration's strong record of developing new domestic energy sources, expanding oil and gas production, and reducing our reliance on foreign oil. The president clearly understands the impact that high gas prices have on middle-class families, but unlike some, he isn't interested in engaging in false debates and phony promises," a White House official said.

The president is expected to outline his all-of-the-above approach to energy production, calling for a clean energy standard and the need to eliminate oil and gas subsidies, among other things.

In the short term, the White House has said there's no magic solution to immediately bring down gas prices and has declined to say whether the president would consider tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

After his speech, the president will spend the evening raising campaign cash at three fundraisers in Miami and Orlando.