The Political Climate: an ongoing commentary on the NH Primary and Climate Change

At a town hall meeting in Manchester last night, many voters showed up to try and “Ask Mitt Anything.”  A Manchester resident questioned Romney about his commitment to renewable energy technologies which could motivate a new sector of green jobs and benefit the economy. 

Romney agreed that there are great economic opportunities available with developing new technologies and pursuing energy independence.  After offering a familiar laundry list of technologies he would develop (nuclear, solar, wind, clean coal, oil etc.), Romney noted that Government should invest in basic science associated with energy and energy efficiency and should give people financial incentives to choose cleaner energy options. 

Chances are that Santa Clause won’t be voting in the upcoming NH Primary, but that didn’t stop him from coming all the way down from the (melting) North Pole to ask Romney about global warming.  Santa told Romney that he has been visiting children all over the world for hundreds of years and is very concerned about how global warming will impact them.  Santa asked Romney what he would do (beyond energy independence) to get the whole world on board to seriously adress the issue.

In response, Romney first emphasized that his plan to achieve US energy independence would be the most effective in reducing CO2 emissions.   Romney then noted that he would like to work with China, India, Brazil and other nations to set limits and guidelines as a global effort but warned against developing something like the Kyoto Accord. 

Check back for video footage soon.