Journalist:  Governor Romney, there has been some environmental protests over the Keystone Pipeline and whether to build that line from Canada to Texas.  What’s your view on this issue?

Romney: President Obama, in January of this year put a halt to this vital project that would create jobs and energy independence.  It would bring tar sands oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.  Now that is laying a lot of pipe. I will build that pipeline if I have to myself.

Journalist:  President Obama?

President Obama: I denied the permit initially but my position on this issue has continued to evolve with the input of experts from the energy industry.  And I recently approved construction of the southern leg of this pipeline.  And we are taking the Northern leg under advisement, with the help of our corporate experts.

Romney:  We are talking about laying pipe here.  There is no half in on a southern leg.

Journalist:  That has been my experience.  And you sir?

TNE:  We must move to a clean energy economy—right now.  Building this pipeline delays that transition and all the jobs that come with that new economy.   In addition, this emissions from tar sands oil production are an average of three times more greenhouse gas intensive than conventional oil. That is the wrong direction to go, and once again there is no difference between these two on this issue.

Journalist:  Our ratings go up when we talk about laying pipe.  Would you give us a comment on that?