“American Energy” is the top issue item on the McCain campaign web site and so far he has focused mostly on promoting new nuclear power. But with the choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain may be signaling a more aggressive approach to domestic drilling.

Palin is a staunch advocate for lifting bans on drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a move that McCain has opposed as dangerous to the environment, though this summer he indicated he would be willing to reconsider this position.

Asked recently about whether she would accept the VP spot on the McCain ticket, Palin said that she would “like to get the opportunity to change his mind on ANWR.”

Palin told the Investors Business Daily, “I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can’t drill our way out of our problem.”

Environmental groups reacted to the announcement of Palin as Republican VP pick with alarm.

“On his first important decision demonstrating what kind of president he’d be, John McCain scores a failing grade,” John DeCock, president of the 1.2 million member environmental group Clean Water Action said in a statement.

“With his selection of Sarah Palin, John McCain is telling millions of Americans who care about the high cost of oil, finding appropriate solutions to stop global warming and an end to lining the pockets of Big Oil to expect more of the same Bush approach in a McCain administration. This ticket means we can expect four more years of neglect, disinterest and kowtowing to Big Oil.”

More on Palin and a link to a video interview here.