John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, is defending his position switch in favor of U.S. offshore oil drilling.

He believed he had made the right decision at a time of record-high gasoline prices and believes he has a chance to win California in the November election.

“I think the environmental situation is today — that we could probably do that,” John McCain said. “But I don’t want to override the state of California.”

The Democrats are trying to use his policy reversal on offshore drilling to portray him as a Republican who, if elected president, would be another George W. Bush.

John McCain

Popularity: 3% [?]