Obama Campaign's New Ad Attacks Romney and the Oil Industry April 2, 2012, 8:15 pm The Obama campaign released a new commercial on Monday that tries to link Mitt Romney to the oil industry, painting both as being hostile to the president's efforts to raise automobile mileage standards and produce more renewable energy. With gas prices approaching $4 a gallon and likely to move even higher in the weeks ahead, the ad is an acknowledgment of the political difficulties the president faces over his energy policies. Mr. Obama's re-election campaign said the ad would be broadcast in six battleground states - Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia. The size of the ad buy was nearly $1 million, said a Republican strategist who tracks media purchases. A debate with the White House over energy is one Republicans are eager to have. Conservative political groups and Republican presidential candidates have attacked Mr. Obama's support for green energy technology and his resistance to more domestic oil drilling as reckless and wrongheaded. Groups like American Crossroads, Americans for Prosperity and the American Energy Alliance have doubled down on their attacks and begun national advertising campaigns assailing the president's energy policies. The president has felt compelled to push back. He traveled to Oklahoma late last month to herald the construction of a new oil pipeline there. And the new commercial is the second the Obama campaign has released this year to defend the president's energy policies. Under President Obama domestic oil production is at an eight-year high. So why is big oil attacking him?" an announcer asks over a picture of Mr. Obama standing before an oil pumping station. The ad goes on to cite his support for ending oil company tax breaks, increasing fuel-efficiency standards and expanding renewable energy. Then it turns to Mr. Romney. Mitt Romney stood big with oil, for their tax breaks, attacking higher mileage standards and renewables.