Oregon Public Broadcasting

Both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain spoke about this week about energy policies they would support or oppose if elected president.  Backers of the Democratic candidate, Obama,  handed out leaflets across Oregon Wednesday.

Erin Bloom is a volunteer with the Obama campaign. She and a half dozen other volunteers canvassed a southwest Portland gas station.

She said Obama's policy targets short-term solutions, like energy tax credits and long-term solutions, and putting a million hybrid plug-in cars on the road by 2015. 

Erin Bloom: "In the short term we're talking about rebates, energy rebates of about a thousand dollars for American families nationwide that Obama is hoping to get by taxing oil company profits."

Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain said taxing oil companies will only increase America's dependence on foreign oil.

Oregon Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Merklely and Senator Ron Wyden also spoke in Portland today, to draw attention to  what they call "excessive oil speculation", which they say is driving up prices at the pump.