Drill, baby, drill ... again

Even before President Barack Obama lifted the ban on offshore drilling, Floridians appeared to be warming to the idea.

A statewide survey conducted Feb. 5-17 reported that 60 percent of respondents support drilling in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast as part of oil- and natural-gas exploration and development. That's up significantly from previous opinion polls.

But the Nielson Co. survey conducted for Leadership Florida found only 18 percent approve of drilling three to 10 miles from the coast. Thirty-six percent are opposed to any drilling at all.

Leadership Florida's Sunshine State Survey -- no relation to Sunshine State News -- is conducted annually to coincide with the legislative session.