Dems Run Risk With Costly Green Reforms

The leading Democratic candidates are committed to far-reaching environmental pledges, surely fueling future GOP attacks—and potentially turning next November in either party’s favor. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards have all signed on to 80% cuts in greenhouse gases by mid-century, the Post reports, which could mean Americans pay 30% more for gas and electricity by 2015.

Republicans are sure to pounce on the high costs of going green. Indeed, “This is not necessarily the greatest political calculation," said Edwards in beseeching voters to pony up. But it’s no skeleton in the closet: Environment and energy have been second only to Iraq in Dem ad topics. And climate change is a topic dear to suburban GOP women. (More John Edwards stories.)