"Standing in front of a row of pipes, President Barack Obama pledged on Thursday to accelerate approval of the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline, seeking to deflect criticism that his rejection of the full project helped create a climate for high gasoline prices."
"The campaign-style stop was immediately dismissed as a stunt by Republicans, saying that Obama doesn't have the authority to really jump start the project. Analysts say it won't likely be finished until 2014 at the earliest.
Rising fuel costs are threatening to derail Obama's hopes of winning re-election in November, and Republicans have honed in on his decision to block TransCanada Corp's Canada-to-Texas pipeline as a sign that his energy priorities were hurting America.
U.S. gasoline prices have jumped nearly 30 cents in the past month, pushing the national average to $3.87 a gallon, according to the Energy Information Administration."
Jeff Mason reports for Reuters March 23, 2012.
SEE ALSO:
"Keystone XL: Obama Defends Handling Of Pipeline Decision" (AP)
"Obama's Pro-Pipeline Moment Unites Irate Republicans, Splits Alarmed Enviros" (Greenwire)
"Environmentalists Puzzled by GOP Efforts To Cast Obama as Overzealous on Their Issues" (Associated Press)
"Obama Energy Pitch Includes Renewed Effort on Cushing Pipeline" (Los Angeles Times)
"Obama Fast-Tracks Part Of Keystone XL Pipeline" (Christian Science Monitor)
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