It seems like you can't swing a dead caribou around the Cheap Seats today without hitting a press release related to oil and gas prices.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., started the ball rolling yesterday with his "Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less" campaign. Republican politicos at all levels have grabbed the six-word mantra with both hands.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gilmore picked up the theme quickly, and promptly used it to smack Democratic candidate Mark Warner upside the head.

"Drill here, drill now, and pay less. This is our path to quickly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower prices," Gilmore said.

"We currently only explore about 15 percent of our nation's coastline for oil and gas. Recent studies estimate that about 86 billion barrels of untapped oil exist in federally restricted areas, Virginia's coastline being one of them," Gilmore said. "Yet, when Mark Warner was governor of Virginia, he vetoed legislation in support of lifting the federal moratorium on offshore drilling."

Not to be out-done, Warner fired off his own plan today.

"We have it in our power right now to fundamentally change how we power our country and our economy -- to break our addiction to foreign oil -- and to create a nation that is more secure and more prosperous," Warner said. "It is time that we reach for a bipartisan consensus on a real set of solutions, and get busy developing a sound U.S. energy strategy for this century and the next."

Some of Warner's ideas from the press release:

•    Working cooperatively with U.S. automakers to raise fuel efficiency standards to at least 40 miles-per-gallon;

•    Working with the petroleum industry to upgrade and expand domestic refining capacity, which has not markedly increased in this country in more than 30 years;

•    Supporting responsible limits on carbon emissions, commonly called "cap-and-trade" proposals, a concept that's supported by both major presidential candidates;

•    Significantly increasing research and development on alternative energy technology, including solar, wind, bio-fuels (not corn-based ethanol), nuclear, "clean-coal", batteries, "smart grid" technology, and other clean energy sources;

Gilmore noted the distinct lack of '"drilling" in Warner's list of ideas.

"Mark Warner is saying the same things that everyone else in Washington has said for the last 20 years," he said. "That is how we got where we are."

 "Mark Warner says he wants to 'wean' Americans off of oil He agrees with the liberal special interest groups that want to drive up gasoline prices and force Americans out of their cars," Gilmore said. 

"Alternative sources of energy are important and we must push them aggressively but they are not going to solve the problems of the average Virginia worker who has to drive 20 or 30 miles every day to work."

Meanwhile, back in Richmond, legislators were preparing for a special session on transportation. And some have legislation that would weld the two issues together.

Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, held a press conference on Wednesday, calling for Gov. Tim Kaine to use his "considerable influence in national Democratic politics" to seek an end to the federal ban on off-shore drilling.

Wagner also said Virginia could drill its way toward better roads -- earmarking any royalties from offshore drilling to the Transportation Trust Fund.

"'Drill here, drill now, pay less' is more than a slogan. It is a formula for a long range solution to rising gasoline costs and to our dependence on foreign oil. Here in Virginia it can be a source of revenue for our growing transportation needs," Wagner said.

Next week is going to be interesting.