August 11 - If supporters of increased offshore oil drilling seem to be everywhere these days, it's no accident. Industry-funded pro-drilling groups are holding rallies. Oil and gas companies have stepped up donations to Republican John McCain's Presidential campaign and public polls on offshore drilling are often misinterpreted. Judith Siers-Poisson and Diane Farsetta of PR Watch.org report.

Proponents of increased offshore oil drilling say they have growing public support, but it all depends on what question you ask. When polls ask whether they support increased drilling or more investment in energy alternatives, most people say the latter. When polls ask whether they support increased drilling to lower gas prices, most people say yes. However, increased drilling would not affect gas prices, in the short term.

The issue has become a major focus of the U.S. presidential campaign. Increased offshore drilling and dozens of new nuclear power plants are major points in Republican candidate John McCain's energy plan. McCain has received millions from donors associated with oil and gas companies, and those donations increased a few months ago, when he started calling for more offshore drilling. Democratic candidate Barack Obama recently said he would support a limited amount of increased offshore drilling, as part of a larger energy plan.

Liberal and conservative activists are also weighing in on the issue. The liberal group MoveOn recently held a rally against increased offshore drilling. Conservative groups that have received funding from fossil fuel companies, like FreedomWorks and American Solutions for Winning the Future, mounted a counter-protest. In July, three groups launched what they called a "stop the war on the poor" campaign. Their main demand is to increase domestic oil production, by drilling offshore and in Alaska. The organizations involved include a pro-drilling front group, Americans for American Energy, and the Congress of Racial Equality, a former civil rights group that's received funding from ExxonMobil.

Interview: Niger Innis, Executive Director of CORE

The group Congress of Racial Equality or CORE is bringing energy to the fore of the Presidential campaign. CORE's Executive Director Niger Innis is framing his argument around what he calls the war against the poor. Innis is funded by Exxon Mobil and Republican advocates. Innis is using his civil rights organization to say Obama's energy policies would hurt the poor.