A new robocall targets Kay Hagan on offshore drilling.

Freedom's Watch, a Washington-based conservative advocacy group, is making automated calls to North Carolina voters about the Democratic Senate candidate's stance on energy.

"Do you think we should return to the energy policies of the 1970s, with Americans facing skyrocketing energy costs and increasing reliance on foreign oil?" a male narrator says. "Kay Hagan apparently does. Her energy plan uses Jimmy Carter's failed policy of 30 years ago!"

The robocall also says that Hagan opposed "new domestic energy production" that would make the U.S. less reliant on foreign oil.

Hagan opposed offshore drilling this summer, but she switched positions in August, backing a Senate bill that would lift the ban as part of a broader package to promote alternative energy and conservation.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole previously opposed offshore drilling in North Carolina, but switched positions in June and also backed the compromise bill.

After the jump, the script.

   Comments (1)

A poll by Elon University found that 69 percent of North Carolina residents support offshore drilling. Another 26 percent are opposed.

The poll also found that 67 percent believe gas prices would fall within a decade, Barb Barrett reports.

"People in North Carolina clearly believe that offshore oil drilling would reduce the pain they feel at the gasoline pump and may agree with any initiative to lift the ban that’s in place," said Hunter Bacot, director of the Elon University poll.

Here’s the breakdown, according to the poll, of respondents saying when they thought prices would be affected by offshore drilling:

— Immediately to less than one year: 14 percent.

— One to five years: 29 percent.

— Six to 10 years: 24 percent.

— Will never affect gas prices: 6 percent.

More after the jump.

   Comments (2)

Kay Hagan supports the Gang of 20 legislation.

The Democratic Senate candidate originally opposed lifting a federal ban on offshore drilling in the United States, as did her Republican opponent, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

Hagan switched positions in August, backing a Senate bill that would lift the ban as part of a broader package to promote alternative energy and conservation.

Spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan noted that the bill would leave the decision on drilling in North Carolina up to the state. She said Hagan would support drilling here if the governor and the legislature decide to allow it.

In late July, the Transylvania Times reported that Hagan did not support drilling here.

"She said some oil drilling is necessary, but not off the coast of North Carolina," the newspaper wrote.

But Flanagan said that the story predated Hagan's decision to endorse the Gang of 20 bill and no longer represents her views.

"If the governor and the legislature decide to allow drilling, Kay would support that," she said.

What would the Gang of 20 legislation do?

A growing bipartisan group of senators is promoting the New Energy Reform Act of 2008 as a response to high gas prices this session.

The bill has been endorsed by Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who joined the Gang of (n+1) last week.

Although it is still being refined, the bill aims to reduce U.S. dependence on gasoline and diesel over the next 10 years in favor of alternative fuels, energy efficiency and conservation.

It would also lift a federal moratorium on offshore drilling in the United States.

The bill would open additional areas in the Gulf of Mexico to leasing by oil companies and allow Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to decide whether to permit drilling. 

In that sense, the legislation would not necessarily lead to offshore drilling off the Outer Banks, since the state legislature and governor could decide against it.

In addition, it currently calls for a 50-mile buffer, allowing drilling only between 50 and 200 miles off the coast.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's latest TV ad attacks Democratic rival Kay Hagan for her ownership of oil and gas wells and her stance on offshore drilling.

What it says: The ad shows images of Hagan, oil wells and gas pumps. Narrator: "Fibber Kay Hagan claims she's against Big Oil, but Kay Hagan is Big Oil. Each time you buy gas, her cash register goes 'ka-ching!' Kay and her husband own multiple oil and gas wells in Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, West Virginia, Ohio. But Kay is against offshore drilling. Must not own any of those." Dole: "I'm Elizabeth Dole and I approve this message."

The background: According to a U.S. Senate financial disclosure form, Hagan and her husband, Chip, have stakes in five companies: Ace Midwest Partners, Psigen Sullivan Partners, Jasmine Oil Wells, Chrisjo Energy Inc. and Ergon Oil Co.

The companies operate oil and gas wells in Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, West Virginia and Ohio.

Though the exact amount was not disclosed, each of the investments was listed as being worth between $15,000 and $50,000. That puts the couple's overall stake somewhere between $90,000 and $300,000.

"These are Chip's," said Hagan spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan. "He has investments in domestic oil wells, which are local businesses contributing to the economy."

Both Dole and Hagan previously supported a federal moratorium on oil exploration off the North Carolina coast.

In June, Dole reversed herself, citing high gas prices. At the time, Hagan criticized her, saying the U.S. "cannot drill ourselves enough oil to solve this problem."

But a month later, Hagan also reversed herself, saying she supports a bipartisan proposal by a group of U.S. senators that would leave the decision on offshore drilling up to North Carolina and other states, promote alternative energy and encourage conservation.

Dole has said she would also support that proposal.

Is it accurate? No. Hagan's investments in oil and gas wells are substantial, but they hardly qualify her for membership in OPEC. Like Dole, she no longer supports a federal ban on offshore drilling in North Carolina and would leave the decision up to the state.

— Ryan Teague Beckwith

The N.C. Republican Party says Kay Hagan is fibbing.

In a glossy four-page mailer sent to some registered voters, the party alleges that the Democratic candidate for Senate is "trying to pull the wool over our eyes."

"Kay Hagan is smearing our Senator Elizabeth Dole to hide her own deeply held secret — every time Americans pay more at the pump — she strikes it rich," it reads.

The mailer argues that Hagan opposes offshore drilling because she and her husband own "multiple oil and gas wells" in Oklahoma, Indiana, West Virginia and Ohio.

It goes on to say that Dole supports conservation, investigating oil speculation and developing alternative energy sources in the United States.

The Hagan campaign responded by noting that Dole has received more than $266,000 from oil companies since 2002.

"(Hagan) has been out across the state railing against the exorbitant profits big oil and gas have realized, talking about reducing our dependence on foreign oil and investing in alternative energies that mean the creation of North Carolina jobs that can't be outsourced," wrote spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan in an e-mail. "I think it's clear to voters who has the credibility on this issue."

The mailer was paid for with the Republican Party's federal account.

Previously: Dole spokesman attacks Hagan over oil wells.

Kay Hagan, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, has a TV ad saying she wants to "level the playing field" for North Carolina families.

What it says: "We need to level the playing field for families around here. Washington stopped working because the special interests just have too much power - oil companies getting tax breaks while we get record gas prices, local jobs shipped overseas and the big corporations and CEOs keep getting rewarded while North Carolina gets left behind. I'm Kay Hagan, and no one can promise they'll change things overnight, but I approve this message with a pledge to begin leveling the playing field - because it's time we got started."

The average national price of unleaded gasoline reached a record high of $4.11 a gallon on July 17, according to AAA. The picture becomes more complex when inflation, disposable income levels and other factors are taken into account.

The loss of large parts of North Carolina's manufacturing sector - particularly furniture and textiles - to overseas plants is well-documented. Recent years have also seen unusually large corporate profits and executive compensation packages.

It's an individual judgement as to whether special interests have "too much power."

Is it accurate? Yes.

- David Ingram

Pat McCrory took another swipe at Beverly Perdue over offshore oil drilling.

The Republican gubernatorial nominee used a lunch speech before a commercial real estate and construction group in Cary to drum his message that Perdue, the Democratic nominee, has flip-flopped on offshore drilling, Mark Johnson reports.

Perdue in June said she was "100 percent opposed" to drilling off North Carolina's coast but last week said she would appoint an independent panel of scientists and engineers to help decide.

McCrory quipped that he doesn’t know where she stands.

"I guess I’ll find out tonight," he said referring to a planned debate to be broadcast at 8 p.m. on WTVD-TV in the Raleigh-Durham market.

McCrory addressed the Raleigh area chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and the Triangle Community Coalition.

How much have U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and John McCain gotten from oil companies?

A new TV ad attacks the Republican Senate and presidential candidates for receiving contributions from oil and gas companies. 

The numbers in the ad are accurate, though it understates Dole's support by about $11,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

McCain's presidential campaign has received $1,332,033 from people who work in the oil and gas industry.

The ad understates Dole's figures, though. 

Dole's Senate campaign has received $277,756 since 2002, of which $110,527 came in during the current two-year election cycle.

That's a little more than the $266,000 figure cited in the ad.

A new ad from the liberal group MoveOn.org attacks U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Republican presidential candidate John McCain's ties to oil companies.