Jim McTague examines Barack Obama’s, um, complex position on nuclear power in Barron’s (subscription required).
BARACK OBAMA, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S PRESUMPTIVE STANDARD bearer, is not a proponent of nuclear power. He has said so publicly. Then again, he is not opposed to nuclear power. He’s said this publicly, too.
Like a subatomic particle in quantum mechanics, Sen. Obama has been able this primary season to be in two places simultaneously when discussing nuclear energy. His has been a masterful piece of political legerdemain. He’s appeased both the nuclear industry, which continues to line his campaign’s pockets, and the environmental community, which fetes him as an enviro-warrior.
Mitch McConnell was on FoxNews this morning pushing for the construction of new nuclear plants, among other things, in the aftermath of Lieberman-Warner.
Will this be a contrast issue between McCain and Obama in the general election? Only time will tell. Obama needs to first decide if he’s going to wear that lapel pin or not.