WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- As he tries to woo independent voters , Sen. John McCain is relying on his image as a maverick , making it clear he 's no President Bush . Sen. John McCain wants an end to the federal ban on offshore drilling , a reversal from his 2000 campaign . But the timing of Bush 's support for offshore oil drilling this week may spell trouble for McCain 's efforts to distance himself from the embattled White House . The president on Wednesday urged Democratic leaders in Congress to lift the ban on offshore drilling -- just as McCain has been making his own energy pitch for the same . `` The next president must be willing to break with the energy policies , not just of the current administration , but the administrations that preceded it , and lead a great national campaign to achieve energy security for America , '' McCain said Wednesday in Springfield , Missouri . Map : See where drilling is and is n't allowed » . The senator from Arizona outlined an energy plan that would include lifting the ban on offshore drilling for oil , a reversal of his position during his 2000 campaign . His speech followed an address Tuesday in Houston , Texas , in which he also pushed offshore drilling . McCain and the president appear to be marching in lockstep on how to deal with $ 4 a gallon gas . They are demanding Democrats end the federal ban on offshore drilling , saying it could lead to a drop in oil prices given the expectation of increased supply . Watch a McCain adviser describe the proposal » . `` I know the Democratic leaders have opposed some of these policies in the past , '' Bush said . `` Now that their opposition has helped drive gas prices to record levels , I ask them to reconsider their positions . '' But Sen. Barack Obama , the presumptive Democratic nominee , argues that offshore drilling will not help lower gas prices in the short term . Watch an Obama supporter blast McCain 's oil policy » . `` At best , you 're looking at five years or more down the road . And even the most optimistic assumptions indicate that offshore drilling might reduce the overall world price of oil by a few cents , '' Obama has said . Obama 's solution , a push for plug-in hybrid cars and other alternatives to oil , will not give consumers short-term relief either . Congressional Democrats are determined to block the president 's push for offshore drilling , prohibited by a 1981 law and a 1990 executive order . `` When Congress lifts the legislative ban , I will lift the executive prohibition , '' Bush said . Watch Bush make a case for new drilling » . The issue also makes for a fascinating family drama since the president 's father , President George H.W . Bush , signed the order banning offshore drilling , while his brother Jeb more recently opposed such drilling when he was governor of Florida . Florida 's current governor , Charlie Crist , has been an opponent of offshore drilling , but he now has an open mind about it since McCain 's embrace . Crist 's name has come up as a possible vice presidential running mate on the GOP ticket . `` It 's the last thing in the world I 'd like to do , but I also understand what people are paying at the pump , and I understand the drag it is on our economy , '' Crist told the St. Petersburg Times this week . `` Something has to be done in a responsible , pragmatic way . '' In the long run , however , the fact that Bush has embraced this position on offshore oil drilling as well may make it more difficult for McCain to portray himself as an independent . McCain 's stance also may hurt him in California , a state with 55 electoral votes . The proposal could put McCain at odds with environmentalists who say it is incongruous with his plans to combat global warning . California Gov . Arnold Schwarzenegger , a McCain ally , also opposes offshore drilling . Schwarzenegger released a statement Wednesday saying he still does not believe it makes sense to have such drilling off the California coast . CNN 's Ed Hornick contributed to this report .
Push for domestic offshore oil drilling is a reversal in policy for Sen. John McCain . President Bush 's support could hurt McCain 's efforts to paint himself as a maverick . Obama says offshore drilling wo n't lower gas prices in the short term . McCain 's drilling position may hurt him in California , a state with 55 electoral votes .