you re a democrat or a republican, maybe not so sure. it s a good opportunity for you to hear from these candidates in extended form as they offer a presentation, answer some questions. the republican congresswoman, michele bachmann of minnesota is here. the georgia businessman herman cain, the former speaker of the house, newt gingrich. the texas congressman and libertarian ron paul and the former massachusetts governor, mitt romney all appearing at senator demint s at this forum in south carolina. missing, the texas governor, rick perry. at the last minute he decided to go home because of wildfires affecting his state. we ll get straight live to the event in just a moment. first, let s get a preview in a sense of how much this matters in a very busy september. this event here today, three presidential debates. including a tea party debate presented by cnn on october 12th, tampa, florida. yes labor day 2011 but a big impact had month on the presidential race for 2012. let s
national average for regular unleaded is more than a dollar than it was a year ago. while the price has soared up a dollar today. while the dollar weakened against foreign concern sis. oil and the dollar usually trade in opposite directions. the feds today okaying a controversial plan to build 130 power generating wind turbines off the coast of massachusetts. the not in my backyard battle has been going on for about a decade now. opponents claim the turbines would wreck the national beauty nantucket sound off cape cod. harm wildlife and increase the burden on rate payers. supporters say the project could create up to a thousand jobs and reduce reliance on coal and oil. today in boston the interior secretary ken salazar applauded this decision. in many ways pioneer for offshore development in the united states. signing the construction and operation s plan today reflects our determination to capture the possibilities that offshore wind, power represents to the economy and to the energ
that wouldn t happen if were us. the bp spill wouldn t happen under their watch. despite the disaster, the u.s. cannot run without oil from the gulf of mexico. america needs the energy and we can produce that energy safely. our nation would lose more than it s already lost if the accident becomes the basis for reversing the many benefits of offshore development. the two congressmen say the response is nearly identical and they re all completely unprepared for a similar caster. the oil company response plans are great for public relation, they allow them to say we have a 500-page plan showing they re prepared for anything but the plans are virtually worthless when a spill actually occurs. the facts of recent days indicate he s right about that. this as leaked emails from bp
the federal judge employment numbers for march come out friday. president obama announcing new plans to expand offshore oil drilling. but he is not chanting drill baby drill just yet. here is some of what the president had to say on this earlier today. my administration will consider potential areas for development in the mid and south atlantic and the gulf of mexico while studying and protecting sensitive areas in the arctic. we ll continue to support the areas off the north slope of alaska. megyn: jim age has gotten to the bottom of this and he will help us out. what is it that president is doing? reporter: you heard him use the word consider. he s expressing a willing less to open up offshore development but not doing anything to open