McCain Tours Oil Platform in Gulf of Mexico

Elizabeth Holmes reports from Kenner, La., on the presidential race. Betting that his pitch for offshore drilling will win him votes in November, John McCain toured an oil production facility Tuesday morning off the Louisiana coast. “New drilling has to be part of our energy solution,” the Republican candidate said from a platform high above the Gulf of Mexico. “When I’m president there will be a whole more like this, not only here in the Gulf, but also off of our East and West Coasts.” The Republican candidate visited the Genesis Spar, which is operated by Chevron and produces 15 million cubic feet of natural gas and 10,000 barrels of oil a day. The spar—which floats in the water as opposed to a platform that would be on legs—is more than 700 feet long, 200 of the feet above water. McCain brought with him eight reporters, a few U.S. Secret Service agents and his close aide. The group rode on a helicopter, during which McCain read The Wall Street Journal, for the trip 150 miles off ... (link)