GOP Leaves Alaska Drilling Off Platform

The committee assembling the Republican Party’s election platform has officially taken drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge off the table, in an effort to help John McCain’s presidential campaign, the AP reports. McCain doesn’t support tapping the protected lands, and committee members say they’d rather convert McCain on the issue after he’s elected.

“He's not there yet,” said one delegate. “Prudence would dictate that we leave the text as it is until our candidate catches up with us.” The document also acknowledges climate change as a reality, but only advocates fixes that don’t hurt the economy. One committee member called it “the greenest platform we’ve ever had.” (More Arctic National Wildlife Refuge stories.)