UPDATE 1-Obama meets oilman who funded '04 attacks on Kerry

Both Obama and McCain advocate increasing the use of wind, solar and other renewable energy sources to help curb U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

McCain has, however, also pushed strongly for offshore oil drilling and a massive expansion of nuclear power across the nation.

Pickens, who has also met with McCain, has been touring the country pushing a plan under which domestic natural gas supplies would be used to power cars instead of electrical power plants. And he wants the federal government and private investors to build a massive wind farm system in the middle of the country from Mexico to Canada to provide electricity.

Pickens, who heads the hedge fund BP Capital, stands to benefit from such a program. He's building a 4,000 megawatt, $10 billion wind farm in northern Texas that should start generating power in 2011.

Pickens issued a statement after his meeting with Obama saying he told the Illinois senator his energy advocacy did not have a party preference.

"I assured Senator Obama that this is a non-partisan campaign and that I will do everything in my power to work together with leaders who are willing to solve our immense energy problems," Pickens said.

"It would be inappropriate for me to speak for Senator Obama. I have a real sense, however, that he was very engaged. He understands the issues and is interested and excited by the work we are doing."

Pickens released a similar statement after his meeting with McCain. (Editing by David Wiessler and Todd Eastham)