Washington, DC – Campaign Money Watch, a campaign finance watchdog group, criticized Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) energy policy, including a reversal of his earlier stance on off-shore oil drilling, as too tied to his big money donors and lobbyists.

“John McCain’s big money donors and lobbyist friends have struck again,” said David Donnelly, director of Campaign Money Watch. “McCain’s reversal on off-shore drilling is a blatant pitch for donations at today’s Houston fundraising events.”

McCain’s speech on energy policy, which he is scheduled to deliver today in Houston, comes on the same day that Campaign Money Watch is releasing a report on McCain’s connections to the energy sector, including the oil, gas and nuclear power industries. The report can be viewed at http://www.campaignmoney.org/mccainenergy [1].

Analyzing data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Campaign Money Watch found that McCain has raised more than $2.1 million from the energy and natural resources sector since 1989, nearly half of which came from the oil and gas industries. His dependence on money from energy companies has soared during the 2008 campaign, with the oil and gas, electric and other energy industries giving far more to McCain this year alone than they did between 1989 and 2006.

The report also found that many energy lobbyists occupy top positions in McCain’s campaign, including top strategist Charlie Black, congressional liaison John Green, national finance director Susan Nelson and deputy campaign manager Christian Ferry.

Campaign Money Watch is a project of the nonpartisan Public Campaign Action Fund. The organization works to hold candidates who are against reform accountable for where they get their political donations.