The 'energy-independent' president minus the details

Rising oil prices meet silence on the campaign trail
By Stephanie I. Cohen

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Everyone is talking about the rising price of oil -- everyone it seems except the people running for president.

Oil and energy policy might seem like a natural topic for debate among those seeking the highest office in the land considering oil topped the $100 threshold earlier this month (Before settling back down around $93) and gasoline prices rose 10 cents a gallon to a national average of $3.07 this week. But oil and energy policies have generated little substantive discussion on the election trail.

There is no shortage of rhetoric about making America energy independent, and the occasional effort to feel the pain of homeowners and commuters feeling the sting of prices at the pump. But the campaign talk is largely decoupled from policy ideas capable of delivering on the rhetoric.

Michigan -- the home of the struggling American automobile industry that spearheaded the craze for the gas-guzzling SUV -- might have been a good place to jumpstart a discussion on oil since vehicles will likely be at the center of any proposal to lower oil consumption and curtail emissions. But Michigan voters are going to the polls on Tuesday knowing little about how the candidates will actually reverse the rising trend in fuel prices and growing reliance on Middle East supplies.

When pushed during debates, Republican and Democratic candidates have delivered broad populist energy themes with references to energy independence, alternative resources, and efficiency. There is a nearly unanimous vision among the candidates -- energy independence.

But beyond energy plans on candidates' websites with 40-year targets for fuel efficiency and emissions cuts, voters are left guessing how anyone will actually get the job done as demand for oil continues to increase.

New Hampshire voters concerned about energy policy and the lack of information on candidates' positions launched the web site Carbon Co2alition to track the positions and promises the candidates have made. The site rates candidates based on seven benchmarks issues including economy-wide emissions reductions, support for energy technology, budget priorities, support for renewable energy, efficiency and conservation.

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