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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Pickens Drills Into McCain Campaign

Oilman's environmental turn enrages GOP, writes columnist

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(Newser) – The reinvention of oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens as an environmentalist represents a huge political about-face, writes Timothy Egan in the New York Times. Four years ago, Pickens bankrolled the Swift Boat campaign that derailed John Kerry's presidential bid. Now Pickens, "looking a bit like the John Huston character from Chinatown," is attacking the efficacy of new drilling just when John McCain is pressing for it.

A new McCain ad directly blames Barack Obama for the high price of gas, but Pickens is overwhelming the McCain attack with a $58 million campaign of his own, including a new spot in which he calls the Republicans' plan "totally misleading." It's a "political parable for the ages," writes Egan, and further proof that the debate is controlled by "who has the bigger microphone."

T. Boone Pickens testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 22, 2008, before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.
T. Boone Pickens testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 22, 2008, before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
T. Boone Pickens testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 22,2008, before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.
T. Boone Pickens testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 22,2008, before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Boone Pickens responds to questions on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 in New York. Pickens says he'll fund a multimedia advertising campaign to focus the nation on its dependence on foreign oil.
Boone Pickens responds to questions on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 in New York. Pickens says he'll fund a multimedia advertising campaign to focus the nation on its dependence on foreign oil.   (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Boone Pickens responds to questions on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 in New York. Pickens says he'll fund a multimedia advertising campaign to focus the nation on its dependence on foreign oil.
Boone Pickens responds to questions on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 in New York. Pickens says he'll fund a multimedia advertising campaign to focus the nation on its dependence on foreign oil.   (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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