Democratic group targets Romney ties to oil
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic outside group backing President Barack Obama's re-election bid is trying to tie Republican Mitt Romney to the oil industry, responding to an ad assailing Obama's energy record.
The new TV ad released Monday by Priorities USA Action argues that the oil industry is trying to help Romney win the White House to protect its own profits and tax breaks.
It aims to counter a $3.6 million ad campaign launched last week by the American Energy Alliance that blames Obama for rising gas prices and criticizes his decision to delay TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone XL pipeline project.
The ad is running in the same states where the American Energy Alliance placed its ad: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia. All eight are expected to be election battlegrounds.
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said the Democratic ad was an attempt to deflect blame and cover up Obama's failure to control gas prices.
