The National Republican Congressional Committee is blasting U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-5) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-8) for not supporting the expansion of domestic oil production, saying the two freshman Democrats are "out of touch." Citing a recent Gallup Poll, the NRCC claims that House Democrats' refusal to get behind opening up new drilling sites stands at odds with the desires of the majority of Americans.

The poll in question showed that 57 percent of those surveyed support "drilling in U.S. coastal and wilderness areas now off limits." Democrats have long opposed opening up these areas, particularly the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Neither Reps. Giffords nor Mitchell have specifically come out against opening up ANWR or the expansion of offshore drilling, but both have spent much of their first year-and-a-half in office fighting for renewable energy tax credits and other energy programs favored by Democrats.

And, in an emailed statement today, Mitchell spokesman Robbie Sherwood said:

"Congressman Mitchell is working to raise fuel efficiency standards and make important investments in clean, renewable energy such as solar and wind power. Congressman Mitchell voted to temporarily suspend shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a short-term inducement for oil companies to lower the price per gallon.

"We can’t simply drill our way to energy independence.  The United States consumes far more of the world’s oil than it could ever produce. And demand worldwide, especially in China and India, is going up. Congressman Mitchell is working to shift our energy policy from subsidizing Big Oil to investing in Arizona solar energy industry."

Giffords also voted to halt shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The measure passed the House by a vote of 385-25.

C.J. Karamargin, Giffords' communications director, said the NRCC was taking "an unfair, untrue swipe" at Giffords, and called the SPR vote a "vivid example of bipartisanship."

The Gallup poll showed that the move to halt SPR shipments had the support of 49 percent of respondents, while 43 percent were opposed.