TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Republican presidential candidate former Mayor Giuliani on Wednesday said everything has to be considered if America wants to break its reliance on foreign oil, including more drilling off Florida’s coast.

Calling the energy supply a major domestic problem, Mr. Giuliani said the nation needs to focus on nuclear power production and renewable energy sources. In the meantime it also needs to see what oil can be tapped, he said.

“Energy independence means everything has to be open for discussion,” Mr. Giuliani said when asked about offshore drilling. “The idea of having more oil under our command, so to speak, or within our orbit probably for some period of time is going to be important. The ultimate goal, however, should be renewable sources of energy.”

Florida’s congressional delegation has been fighting attempts to open more of the Gulf of Mexico to drilling, saying they are concerned spills could damage the environment and tourism.

During a discussion with Republican state lawmakers, the former New York mayor cited Brazil’s use of ethanol as an example the United States should follow.

“Why should they be ahead of us on ethanol?” he said. “We should be ahead of them. That should be our goal.”

If America concentrates on new or improved technologies for energy production, it can then turn around and sell them to countries such as India and China, which have growing demand, he said.

“That’s the way America grows in global trade,” Mr. Giuliani said. “Energy independence is a great industry for us. Let’s think about this like business people.”

Mr. Giuliani also criticized Democrats for pushing a deadline for a military withdrawal from Iraq, saying it “lacks common sense.”

“When in the history of war has a retreating country or army printed out a schedule of their retreat and handed it to their enemy? Forget politics and forget all of this, does that make any sense?” Mr. Giuliani said while addressing Republican lawmakers. A bill passed by the Senate calls for most American combat troops to be out of Iraq by March 31. An even stronger House-passed bill demands a September 2008 withdrawal. Mr. Bush has threatened to veto both.

Mr. Giuliani later addressed about 500 supporters at St. Petersburg High School, where he continued on the Iraq theme.

“You have to be on offense against terrorists,” Giuliani said. “We can never, ever go back to the way we used to be before Sept. 11. And I believe that if this election in 2008 goes the other way, we will be right back playing defense, because that’s what the Democrats are doing.”

While in Tallahassee, Giuliani met privately with Governor Crist. Mr. Giuliani praised Mr. Crist as a “new Republican” who reaches out to all people and who has gotten off to a great start as governor. A Quinnipiac University poll this month showed Mr. Crist with a 73 percent approval rating, including 71 percent among Democrats.

“We’re trying to gently twist his arm,” Mr. Giuliani said. “That’s why we’re here, because we know how important he can be.”

Mr. Crist has not endorsed a presidential candidate but had kind words for Mr. Giuliani.

“He has great leadership,” said Mr. Crist, who last week introduced Republican Senator McCain of Arizona at a fundraiser for his presidential campaign.

Giuliani picked up an endorsement of Attorney General Bill McCollum while in the capital.

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Associated Press writer Mitch Stacy in St. Petersburg contributed to this report.