Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Welch was in Pittsburgh today, taking President Obama and Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey to task on their energy policy decisions, including over-regulation, failure to approve the Keystone Pipeline, and investment in wind and solar instead of proven, readily obtainable sources of energy. Welch also blamed Mr. Obama and Casey for high gas prices.
"It effects every American family, directly or indirectly … and across this country as you see people trying to make ends meet, $10 more a week is a life changing event," said Welch.
Welch applauded Pennsylvania's recent passage of Marcellus Shale natural gas regulation, saying he was glad to see oversight kept at the state level.
He also said he is not endorsing a candidate in the Republican presidential primary. But Republican Committee of Allegheny County Chairman Jim Roddey said he's behind Mitt Romney, noting that while he likes former Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, he thinks Santorum is too far to the right to win the White House. But Roddey said it will be a tough race and he thinks the road to the presidency runs through the commonwealth.
"Obama is probably going to do well in the eastern part of the state, the Republican candidate will do good in the middle — the battleground may be Western Pennsylvania, for the whole presidency," said Roddey.
