Calif. governor opposes offshore drilling

MIAMI, June 27 (UPI) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking at a climate change conference in Florida, said advocates of offshore drilling are "blowing smoke."

The governor's statement appeared to be aimed at least partly at his fellow Republican, U.S. Sen. John McCain, the Los Angeles Times reported. A Schwarzenegger spokesman later told the Times he was not referring to McCain or to his host, Florida Gov. Charles Crist.

"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and ending the ban on offshore drilling," Schwarzenegger said. "But anyone who tells you this would bring down gas prices any time soon is blowing smoke."

He called for greater use of wind and solar power and other alternatives and more efficient vehicles. He said the average U.S. passenger vehicle has poorer gas mileage than Henry Ford's Model T.