Obama Calls for Opening of Strategic Oil Reserve, Windfall Profits Tax

(Fox News) - Barack Obama was ready to unveil another shift in his energy policy Monday, reversing his opposition to tapping the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve as a means of lowering gasoline prices.

Obama’s campaign previewed a speech he’ll give in Lansing, Mich., saying he’d like to release a portion of the 700 million barrels of oil kept in salt caverns in Texas and Louisiana. Obama also is expected to call for a revival of the windfall profits tax on oil companies.

The shift in Obama’s energy policy follows comments over the weekend that he would be open to limited proposals for new offshore drilling. The change drew a charge of flip-flopping from John McCain’s campaign.