John McCain released a new television advertisement where he promises relief at the gas pump for working families by increasing oil drilling in America.

The ad begins by showing an old fashioned gas pump as a voice darkly intones, “Gas prices, $5, $% no end in site.”  Then, as the image changes to rapidly rising pump numbers, the very serious voice continues, “Because some in Washington are saying ‘no’ to drilling in America.  No to independence to foreign oil.”

As an image of Barack Obama appears on the screen as the voice continues, “Who can you blame for rising prices at the pump?”  A crowd chants, “OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA!”

The screen changes to John McCain talking with a microphone as the narrator continues, “One man knows we must drill more of America and rescue our family budgets.  Don’t hope for more energy.  Vote for it.”   

Wow.  Where to start?

First, it’s apparent that McCain is writing off the environmental vote in an effort to pander to people who have been most hurt by the government’s disastrous energy and transportation policies by, well, promising to continue and expand those policies.

While McCain is now on record in guaranteeing an increase in drilling and oil production, Obama is on record promoting alternative transportation be it in the form of non-motorized transportation or transit.  Making this ad worse, energy experts are near unanimous in their prediction that putting more drills into the ground wouldn’t have any impact on prices at the gasoline pump.

Last, I don’t vote or hope for more energy.  I usually just eat a power bar before hopping on my bike.

As the presidential race drags on, we’re seeing a greater and greater divide between the two candidates’ positions on transportation.  One is promising, despite a disturbing fascination with ethanol, to invest in the tried and true ways to reduce automobile dependency.  The other is promising to continue it.