Our candidate should run on a plan that includes selling off a portion of federally-owned lands that happen to contain resources, to domestic private entities. This could put a significant dent in the budget deficit. Feds own one-third of lower-48 land mass, and a higher portion of Alaska and Hawaii.
The enviros will oppose, but a plurality of Americans want to drill for our own resources, and a plurality, according to polls, consider the budget deficit to be at the top of their concerns.