(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney unveiled his proposals to achieve "North American energy independence" by 2020.  The plan, that would include North Carolina, was laid out during a campaign stop in New Mexico on Thursday.

"Right now the federal government has been holding off offshore development and what we're going to have to do is speed that up and make it possible," said Romney. "I'm going to put together a five-year leasing plan to lease offshore sources and we're going to make, as part of that, the Carolinas and Virginia and the Gulf."

The Obama campaign is describing Romney's energy proposal as an "irresponsible" plan that will "line the pockets of big oil.