COLUMBUS-Oh-With gas prices soaring as a byproduct of a recession brought on by the Bush administration that has reached its peak during this last year of President Barack Obama's four-year term, the president visited the battleground state Ohio yesterday, speaking on energy and conservation to a capacity crowd at The Ohio State University in Columbus, the state's capital.

United States President Barack Obama

The White House said in a press release before the president's visit on Thurs. that Ohio was chosen as the last pit stop because it is top notch in energy- related research, making it a appropriate to highlight the commitment of the Obama administration to continue to "[promote} responsible oil and gas development, increase auto fuel economy, support renewable energy sources, and invest in infrastructure and research and development."

The president pushed his energy agenda beginning earlier this week in Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

He toured the university campus, the nation's largest, mingled with faculty and students, and took a look at the world's fastest car, the Buckeye Bullet 2.

In his speech at the campus recreation center the president said that while he supports oil drilling, his policies are to ensure that it is done efficiently, responsibly and with the health and welfare of the nation's people as the utmost priority.

"We're not drilling next to the Washington Monument. We're not drilling in Ohio Stadium," the president said, drawing both laughter and applause as the Ohio State Buckeyes Basketball team is among the Sweet Sixteen.

Obama's energy plan includes mixing drilling with solar power to reduce fuel efficiency to bring down high oil and gas prices and to minimize the country's dependency on foreign oil.

Reach Kathy Wray Coleman by email at kathy@kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, and by telephone at 216-932-3114.