So this is leadership. Reuters reports that President Barack Obama plans to announce on Thursday that his administration will explore an alternative route for a Canada-Texas oil pipeline, delaying final approval until after the 2012 presidential election.

The $7 billion Keystone XL project is designed to carry oil — the equivalent of more than a million barrels of oil per day — from tar fields in Alberta to refineries and ports along the Gulf of Mexico. Its construction will be a huge boost to American construction and industry in the state of Texas which is why unions, traditionally a Democratic voting bloc, were in favor.

Environmentalists however, another key constituency for the president’s reelection effort, opposed the pipeline because, they say, tar sands are “dirty.” No matter that their exploitation will continue in Canada whether America builds the pipeline or not.

In June, the Republican controlled House energy committee had pushed legislation that would force the administration to expedite its decision on the Keystone project.

But of course, it’s the Republicans who are “putting party before country” and are more concerned about their election prospects than creating American jobs. No, the president, he is “laser focused” on employment.