June 24 (Bloomberg) -- Republican John McCain is campaigning in California to tout his environmental credentials and instead has found himself on the defensive over his proposal to let states allow oil exploration off the U.S. coast.

``When people are hurting, and struggling to afford gasoline, food, and other necessities, common sense requires that we draw upon America's own vast reserves of oil and natural gas,'' McCain said today.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee spoke at the Museum of Natural History in Santa Barbara, a coastal city about 100 miles north of Los Angeles where a massive offshore oil spill in 1969 helped spur the rise of the modern environmental movement.

While McCain didn't specifically mention his reversal on coastal oil drilling in his speech, which focused on his proposals to cut emissions linked to global warming, the subject intruded on his agenda during his two-day swing in the state.

McCain's Democratic rival, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, used much of a speech in Las Vegas today to attack his opponent's energy and environmental policies. McCain's proposal for offshore drilling wouldn't provide any short-term relief for Americans and would have an insignificant effect on gas prices in the long run, Obama said.

`Real Relief'

``It's an example of how Washington tries to convince you that they've done something to make your life better when they really didn't,'' Obama said. ``The American people don't need psychological relief or meaningless gimmicks to get politicians through the next election cycle, they need real relief.''

McCain's position may cost him votes in California, which hasn't gone for a Republican presidential candidate since George H.W. Bush, the current president's father, won there in 1988. The state is the most populous in the U.S. and has the biggest trove of electoral votes -- 55 of the 270 needed to win the presidency.

Opening the coast to drilling has drawn bipartisan opposition in California; among those against the idea is Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a McCain supporter. The issue has trailed McCain in the state.

During a roundtable discussion after McCain's remarks today, panelist Michael Feeney, executive director of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara, a private conservation group, said drilling on the continental shelf won't produce oil for 10 to 20 years.

`Price of Admission'

That's ``not going to have any impact of gasoline anytime soon,'' Feeney said. ``I'm not sure most Americans will think that's worth the price of admission.''

At a Fresno town-hall meeting yesterday, McCain was asked why he would allow oil production offshore while continuing to oppose drilling in the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge. He said the refuge was ``pristine'' and that offshore drilling now is a safer than four decades ago.

``I envision they would be somewhat further offshore, but that would be, again, a decision by the people of this state,'' he said.

He also was challenged at a fundraiser last night in Santa Barbara, where he told Republicans they can't afford to write off the state in national elections.

``Santa Barbara has among other things a great natural beauty -- one of our great natural beauties lies before you out there to the south,'' a member of the audience, Dan Secord, told McCain as he gestured toward the Pacific Ocean.

Coastal Concerns

``We're really kind of goosey here about oil spills, and we're goosey here about federal drilling and oil lands, which are abundant offshore,'' said Secord, an alternate member of the California Coastal Commission appointed by Schwarzenegger.

McCain supported the federal moratorium on offshore drilling in his failed 2000 bid for the Republican presidential nomination. The Arizona senator, 71, reversed himself last week, saying the decision should be left to the states.

He said his view had changed because of the impact of soaring gasoline prices on consumers and the country's continuing reliance on foreign oil. President George W. Bush also backs opening the coast and announced his support as McCain is trying to demonstrate his differences with the administration on the environment.

Even as average retail gasoline prices in California exceed $4.50 a gallon, the consensus in the state against coastal exploration is holding. Schwarzenegger was quoted in today's Los Angeles Times as saying: ``We made a decision a while back to say no drilling off our shores in California, and we are serious about that and we're not going to change that.''

Climate Change

In his Santa Barbara speech, McCain said that any steps the country takes to ensure energy security must also take climate change into account.

``The facts of global warming demand our urgent attention, especially in Washington. Good stewardship, prudence, and simple common sense demand that we act to meet the challenge, and act quickly,'' McCain said.

Among those steps, he said, are increased reliance on nuclear power and greater development of energy from wind, biofuels and the sun. The government can lead the way by requiring that all of the 60,000 vehicles purchased each year by the federal government be capable of running on biofuels, natural gas or hybrid technology, he said.

From Santa Barbara, McCain flew to Southern California for two fundraisers, in Riverside and Newport Beach. Obama is also heading to California for a fundraiser in Los Angeles tonight. His campaign said that McCain raised $3.5 million during his two- day California swing and a total of $11.5 million in the state over the last 60 days.

In Las Vegas, Obama touted his plan to create more ``green jobs'' related to the development of alternative energies. He toured a site deriving energy from solar panels and said his plan to raise fuel standards would save American consumers from buying half a trillion gallons of gas over 18 years.

``My entire energy plan will produce three times the oil savings that John McCain's ever could,'' Obama said. ``And what's more, it will actually decrease our dependence on oil while his will only grow our addiction further.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Edwin Chen in Santa Barbara, California at echen32@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 24, 2008 17:25 EDT