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Coal campaign heats up as Romney stumps in Ohio

US PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Mitt Romney has called for energy independence from atop the Century coal mine in eastern Ohio.

Justin Niessner
Coal campaign heats up as Romney stumps in Ohio

The move represents an increased focus on coal as a campaign issue, particularly in the critical swing state of Ohio.

“By the end of my second term – hopefully, I get that first and second term – we will have North America energy independence,” Romney said to an audience of about 1500 coal miners and their families.

“He’s [Obama] for all the sources of energy that come from above the ground, none of the sources below the ground, like oil and coal and gas,” he said attacking what has come to be known as Obama’s “war on coal”

"I’m for all of the above, whether it comes from above the ground or below the ground,” he said.

“We’re going to take advantage of our energy resources to save your jobs, create more jobs, and, by the way, when we use our plentiful energy resources, our inexpensive carbon-based resources, you’re going to see manufacturing come back to America.”

The heating up of coal as a campaign issue, particularly in the hotly contested state of Ohio has manifested itself in more emotional campaigning from the Republican camp. It also has featured fierce attacks on Romney’s anti-coal pressure as governor of Massachusetts including an awkwardly pro-coal advertisement from the Obama team.

“If you don’t believe in coal, if you don’t believe in energy independence for America, just say it,” Romney said at the Ohio rally addressing the Obama administration’s stringent emissions reduction policies which have forced many coal-fired plants into closure.

“If you believe the whole answer for our energy needs is wind and solar, then say that.”

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