TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Charlie Crist dropped his long-standing support for the federal government's moratorium on offshore drilling Tuesday and endorsed Sen. John McCain's proposal to let states decide for themselves. Related: McCain Calls For Domestic Drilling The governor said he reversed his position because of rising fuel prices and states rights.

"I mean, let's face it, the price of gas has gone through the roof, and Florida families are suffering," Crist said. "And my heart bleeds for them."

Crist is considered a possible running mate for McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee.

Democrats immediately pounced on McCain's proposal, saying countries that allow offshore drilling have even higher prices and that oil companies don't need more offshore drilling areas because they have failed to fully exploit their current leases.

"I thought John McCain was serious when he said he wanted to make America less dependent on oil," said Bill Nelson, D-Florida. "I didn't think he was a flip-flopper."

Just last year, Crist had urged federal lawmakers to reject legislation, which they did, that would have allowed drilling as close as 45 miles off Florida's beaches. He also supported the moratorium during his 2006 campaign for governor.

Most Florida politicians historically have opposed drilling because they fear it would harm the state's beaches that are so vital to its tourism economy. Crist is the first major Republican official to publicly call for the ban to be lifted, but others are softening on the issue.

"I believe that we should begin to expand our ability to drill offshore," Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon. "We have tremendous amounts of natural gas that the American people are not benefiting from. Technology now exists that will allow us to be able to tap into these natural gas reserves in a more environmentally sensitive manner."

Crenshaw and other officials also worried that drilling would interfere with weapons testing and training in and over the Gulf of Mexico by Florida military bases.

Florida's Republican senator, Mel Martinez, was not quick to drop his opposition to drilling off the coast of Florida.

"My hope is that Sen. McCain will understand the need to maintain the law as we passed it in 2006 which gives Florida a 125-mile buffer in the Gulf of Mexico," Martinez said Tuesday. "With that understanding, then I think the rest of it is something I can probably live with. I think it's about providing enough resources where the states want to drill and permit it."

Democrats continue to argue that additional offshore drilling would not affect prices set on the world market.

"It would only increase oil companies' record-breaking profits," said Florida Democratic Party spokesman Mark Bubriski.

He compared Crist's reversal to his recent proposal for a temporary reduction of Florida gasoline taxes after McCain made a similar proposal at the national level. Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, criticized it as a campaign gimmick.

"If John McCain jumps off a cliff, will Charlie Crist jump, too?" Bubriski said.

Eric Draper, policy director for Audubon of Florida, said it would take 10 years to produce energy from new offshore leases even if exploration started now. He said conservation is a better solution.

"If you had an oil leak out there, an explosion, you would end up damaging all the beaches on the Gulf Coast," Draper said.

Crist said he was unsure whether the Florida Legislature would approve drilling even if it should be given that choice, but he said it's something lawmakers should at least be willing to study.

He said protecting the environment should be balanced against economic factors.

"Florida has one of the most pristine environments on our planet and we must guard it carefully," Crist said in a statement. "It has become increasing clear that we must be pragmatic in protecting both our beaches and our economy. We look forward to the dialogue as we move forward to protect both our environment and our country’s economic interests."

Crist, though, acknowledged even if Florida decides against drilling the state's beaches could be damaged by pollution from neighboring states if they do allow it. He said he hoped improved technology would reduce the chances of that happening.

David Mica, executive director of the Florida Petroleum Council, said the industry already has changed since the moratoriums were put in place.

"Technologies that we use and the extraction of oil and gases is much more compatible with offshore resources and protection of the environment," Mica said.

He said the drilling also would generate more cash for government and reduce the tax burden on citizens.