“That’s counterproductive,” Davis said.

Pumping up supply

Republicans have generally been pushing for more oil drilling either in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or with offshore oil rigs.

Davis — and Dick Day, his GOP challenger in the Republican primary election — favor both. Coleman supports more offshore drilling but not opening ANWR to oil exploration.

They say oil-drilling practices have improved to the point the environment could be protected while dramatically boosting the amount of petroleum American can produce. When pressed, they admit the increased production would be a decade or more away.

“It’s definitely a long-term benefit,” Davis said. “I have four young children. I want our economy to be strong, our country to be prosperous in 20 years.”

But Davis and other Republicans say they think there could be a more immediate, albeit slight, impact of an announcement that previously off-limits areas would be open to the oil companies.

“Oil is a commodity,” Davis said. “Part of its price is based on perceived future availability.”

Minnesota, of course, is about as far as a place could be from the oil rigs that would spring up on the coasts or in the Alaskan wilderness, making it easier for elected officials to support more drilling.

When Coleman was asked about his willingness to support drilling in Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes, where there is believed to be the potential for large reserves of natural gas, his response was ambiguous.

“I’d take a look at it,” he said. “I’m not saying I’d do it or not do it.”

A short time later, the answer changed when Coleman spokesman Leroy Coleman called reporters who had participated in the senator’s Friday conference call.

“What he meant to say is he believes we need to know where all our domestic resources are, but that he’s unequivocally opposed to drilling in the Great Lakes,” Leroy Coleman said.

Placing blame

There is one thing the politicians agree on, other than that they understand Americans are struggling with energy costs: The other guys are to blame.