State pores over oil on water.

• Position: Eastern

When the oil rig that exploded in April off the coast of Louisiana poured millions of gallons of black gold into the Gulf of Mexico, it also muddied the water for those aching to drill for oil and gas in the Atlantic Ocean. With a Democratic president's backing, offshore exploration had seemed a good bet. Now, the urge to "Drill, baby, drill!" in the Atlantic has been tempered by the specter of spill, maybe spill.

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Proponents still say offshore resources should be developed, with greater safeguards, to lessen dependence on foreign supplies and benefit the state. The Southeast...