Obama's and Romney's Energy Advisers: A Study in Contrasts

As reviewed in an article by Elisa Wood , there is a profound difference between President Obama's energy advisor and Republican nominee Mitt Romney's energy advisor. Harold Hamm is part of team Romney while Heather Zichal is in Obama's camp.

Hamm made his fortune from oil, his academic qualifications consist of little more than a high school diploma. By contrast, Zichal has worked as an intern for the Sierra Club while at Rutgers University. Her meteoric rise in Washington's policy ranks took a little over a decade.

A Vote for Obama is a Vote for Survival

This may be the most important election in US history. There are two clear and distinct paths going forward, the choice Amercans make today will reverberate around the world and define the future. For anyone who sees the value of the environment or who understands the crucial importance of developing clean energy the choice is obvious.

President Obama has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Environment America, the League of Conservation Voters, and Clean Water Action. In addition the President has recieved endorsements from Mayor Bloomberg, Colin Powell, Gov. Cuomo, and even Gov Christie.

There is no guarantee that a vote for Obama will succeed in staving off the worst effects of climate change, but it is the best shot we have to protect our planet. We know that a vote for Mitt Romney will increase America's dependence on fossil fuels while decreasing clean energy. A vote for the Republicans will also undermine decades of environmental protections. It is not overstating the case to say a vote for Romney risks runaway climate change which could result in death on a planetary scale.

Republican Gov. Christie Embraces President Obama

Republican Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie’s public embrace of Mr. Obama reverberated across the country. Gov. Christie said that President Obama deserves "great credit" for his response to Hurricane Sandy, during an appearance on "CBS This Morning" Tuesday.

"I can't thank the president enough for that," Christie said, referring to the major disaster declaration Obama signed for New Jersey, expediting federal aid to the state. "Cooperation from the president of the United States has been outstanding. He deserves great credit."

Climate Change is One of the Reasons Colin Powell Endorses President Obama

Prominent Republican Colin Powell and former secretary of state under President George W. Bush, has endorsed President Obama for re-election in 2012. Powell is a retired four-star general, he was formally chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush and he was also national security advisor under former President Ronald Reagan.

President Obama's position on climate change is one of the reasons Powell cited for his endorsement. Other reasons include the economy, foreign policy, defense, education, immigration, and health care.

At a rally in Richmond, Virginia, President Obama welcomed the endorsement, saying:

Hurricane Sandy Prompts Gov. Cuomo and Other Democrats to Speak Out on Climate Change

The horrendous impact of Hurricane Sandy is putting climate change back on the political radar just ahead of election day. A growing number of politicians are speaking out on the need for public policy that addresses the impacts of extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York has been traveling across the country stumping for President Obama. “It’s a longer conversation,” Cuomo said at a press briefing last Wednesday. “But I think part of learning from this is the recognition that climate change is a reality, extreme weather is a reality, it is a reality that we are vulnerable.

Citing Climate Change Mayor Bloomberg Endorses President Obama

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Michael Bloomberg has endorsed President Obama. Bloomberg's endorsement is significant because in addition to being a business leader, he was the first Republican governor of New Jersey, and he is now the conservative independent mayor of New York City. Although Bloomberg has been critical of both candidates, he indicated that President Obama was the better candidate to tackle the global climate change.

“The devastation that Hurricane Sandy brought to New York City and much of the Northeast — in lost lives, lost homes and lost business — brought the stakes of next Tuesday’s presidential election into sharp relief,” Mr. Bloomberg wrote in an editorial for Bloomberg View.