An oil spill off the Jersey Shore or anywhere along the Atlantic coast would be disastrous environmentally and economically. Coastal residents have long opposed moves to end the federal ban on offshore oil drilling, and that is why Sen. John McCain opposed drilling in his 2000 presidential campaign.

McCain should have stuck to that position. Monday, however, in an obvious attempt to pander to voters' disgust with high gas prices as well as to grease his way with the more conservative Republican base that believes any oil well is a good oil well, he changed sides. The timing is interesting given that President Bush yesterday repeated his call to end the ban on drilling off the coast and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

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