Obama promotes domestic energy production efforts in speech aimed at voters

Feb. 17, 2012: President Obama speaks in Bellevue, Wash. (AP)

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says GOP charges that his policies are driving up gas prices won't pass "a political bull-detector" test.

On a stop Thursday in New Hampshire, he said if simply drilling more at home could slash the price at the pump that would be happening now because U.S. production is up on his watch.

Speaking at Nashua Community College, Obama blamed high prices on tensions with Iran and increased global demand. He says that can't be solved by "slogans and phony rhetoric."

Obama was spending part of the day in snowy New Hampshire, a strategically important battleground that he won handily in 2008. Later, he was flying to New York City for a series of campaign fundraisers.