John McCain clearly recognizes the opening that the high gas prices has provided him in the general election. Team McCain released their second straight ad on energy, this one focusing on McCain’s policy rather than the Barack Obama policies that the “Dr. No” ad criticized.  McCain punches the idea of lowering prices at the pump, without mentioning the contrast of Obama’s remarks that tacitly supported higher prices:

American technology protected the world. We went to the moon, not because it was easy, but because it was hard. John McCain will call America to our next national purpose: Energy Security.

A comprehensive bipartisan plan to:

• Lower prices at the pump.
• Reduce dependence on foreign oil through domestic drilling.
• And champion energy alternatives for better choices and lower costs.

Putting country first.McCain.

JOHN MCCAIN: I’m John McCain and I approve this message.

Effective, if necessarily short on details.  It emphasizes the key goals of most Americans on energy policy, and unlike the Democrats, asserts that we can do all of these things in parallel.  I find it interesting that the ad doesn’t make any mention of the Lexington Project, not even in the graphics.  They should be making that a brand name, akin to the Contract with America of 1994, a catchphrase that will give instant recognition on the issue and a plan that sets the parameters of the debate over energy policy.  The ad, and McCain’s policy (except for cap-and-trade), emphasizes optimism and the can-do spirit that Americans love, as opposed to “Dr. No”.

They need to run this over and over again between now and the convention.  McCain has a wide opening on energy policy, and if properly exploited, will trump Obama’s current edge on economic issues..