Phil Gramm
As an economist, Phil Gramm knew the importance of money when it comes to winning the Presidency. With a $16 million war chest to draw from -- more than any of his fellow Republicans at the start -- Phil showed that he hadn't lost his head for cash since the days of Gramm-Rudman.
What Gramm didn't count on was that big money doesn't always mean big votes. When early polls showed Phil a distant second to Bob Dole, Phil decided to force Dole into a race to see who could run fastest and farthest to the Right. Gramm pitched as hard as he could, but Dole wasn't swinging, leaving him with a huge campaign fund that couldn't convince a disinterested voting bloc. One of the bitterest pills Gramm ever had to swallow was leaving the race as early as he did; no candidate believed more fervently that he belonged in the Oval Office.
Gramm is a tough campaigner, but he has generally relied on a ruthless attack strategy to win. In the Republican primaries low blows are frowned upon. But Phil's hungry, and he's rarely afraid to make enemies. Therein lay his downfall.
Internet Resources:
- Phil Gramm for President
- This ranks as the most slick of the official "campaign" candidate web sites. You'll find a humongous collection of multi-media: photos, audio, and film clips. As if we wanted to see Phil's puss.
- Cyber-Republicans for Phil Gramm
- A Gramm volunteer updates this page. Little more than a pointer to Phil's "official" page and copy from a Gramm brochure.
- "Slick Philly"
- Mother Jones July/August 1995 cover story about Phil and his campaign. Read how Phil has changed from a serious economic conservative to a cynical, divisive politico. MoJo also breaks the story of Gramm's efforts to free a white Texas drug dealer.
- Gramm's Republican Primary Page
- A good backgrounder. Plus hear Phil's thick Texas drawl as he announces his candidacy. Yuk.
Newsgroups: