Gov rethinking drilling off Fla. coast after rig explosion, oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf oil spill gives Fla. gov pause over drilling

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s governor says an oil leak fouling the Gulf of Mexico has him rethinking whether drilling off his state’s coast is a good idea.

Tens of thousands of gallons a day are leaking from the site of a drilling platform that exploded last week off Louisiana.

Republicans in Florida have been pushing the idea of drilling within 10 miles of the coast. GOP Gov. Charlie Crist has said he’s willing to listen as long as drilling is far enough, clean enough and safe enough to protect the state’s beaches.

But Crist said Tuesday that something is wrong if the explosion doesn’t give people pause.

The oil slick is now within about 90 miles of Pensacola’s beaches.