The Hill News

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.), a potential dark horse presidential candidate in 2012, traveled to the Gulf Coast this week to survey the damage wrought by the BP oil spill. 

Few GOP presidential hopefuls have visited the Gulf coast since the oil spill began more than 100 days ago. A spokeswoman for Pence told The Hill in June that the congressman planned to visit during the summer. 

Pence, the third-ranking House Republican, appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" live from New Orleans Tuesday morning. He praised the progress made in capping the gushing well, but also railed against the Obama administration's moratorium on deepwater oil drilling. 

Republicans and some Gul! f-state Democrats have said that the moratorium has hurt the local economy and killed jobs. But the administration has argued it is necessary until the cause of the leak is determined and safety standards aboard deepwater rigs are better enforced. 

Asked if his visit has anything to do with a presidential run, Pence ducked.

"I'm humbled by the inference ... but the Republican leader tapped me a year and a half ago to American Energy Solutions group for Republicans," he said. "We want the American people to know we are opposed to this job-killing moratorium."

Pence said he was traveling with GOP Reps. Charlie Dent (Pa.) and Pete Olson (Texas), along with local Republicans. 

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