■ Phil Gramm grabbed early attention in race for ’96 GOP presidential nod with C-Span broadcast of stump speech before Iowa Sportsmen’s Association. Gramm’s folksy approach—despite a PhD in economics—and populist aphorisms on issues from welfare to crime to Mexican peso crisis repeatedly brought standing ovations from gun-owners, who are strong force in Iowa’s pre—New Hampshire caucuses. . . . Gramm and other contenders— like former Tenn. Gov. Lamar Alexander—already running hard because of little-noticed but momentous change in nomination process since ’92 election cycle: early bunching up of major GOP primaries (especially in South) may mean race will be decided in February or March. . . . Presidential hopefuls also intensifying their campaign-apparatchik talent hunts. Alexander showed D.C. he is serious by landing hot TV-ad guru Michael Murphy and former Ollie North spokesman Mark Merritt, while Gramm is consulting on strategy with experienced, affable Charlie Black. Gearing up for his own ’96 announcement, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole brought in John Sununu protégé Dan Carney, who ran ’94 GOP Senate campaigns. Longshot candidate Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.), who is running on anti-social-conservative platform, has Roger Stone as strategist. . . . On Democratic side, the James Carville, Paul Be- gala, Stanley Greenberg triumvirate that got Bill Clinton into the White House now on the outs with Prez because of ’94 debacle. Clinton admeister Mandy Grunwald also in disfavor. According to Democratic National Committee spokesmen, retainers paid to these four consultants ($780,000 in total) are now under review. . . . Main effect of Clinton’s State of the Union marathon is to weaken him further on Capitol Hill, as its length (1 hour 22 minutes) continues to evoke memories of his worst political moment—interminable, someone-get-the-hook address to 1988 Atlanta Convention. . . . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cites public-relations expert Fred Hoar for insight into why Congress grew restless during address: “About 80 per cent of the audience of after-dinner speeches are having sexual fantasies.” . . . Selection of N.J. Gov. Christine Whitman as respondent to Clinton gave GOP leaders huge headache as social conservatives flooded D.C. offices with protest calls. Reason: Whitman goes out of way to antagonize GOP Right by celebrating Roe v. Wade and pushing hard for gay rights. Behind Whitman’s attempt to outdo Arlen Specter is usual palace politics. She pulled out ’93 race against incumbent Gov. James Florio by embracing Reaganesque tax-cut plan, which her original advisors opposed. Same advisors now warning her against Reaganesque stance on social issues. Unaware of damage being done to boss nationally these advisors see fact that Whitman is now favorite Republican of New York Times as a political coup. . . . Calif. Gov. Pete Wilson, who has also antagonized Right, is trying to refurbish image with Reagan-like moves as he thinks about presidential run. Formerly pro-tax, Wilson now pushing tax-cut bill and education reforms that have gotten him in tough fight with teachers’ union.
■ As Contract with America proposals proceed on Capitol Hill, Speaker Newt Gingrich is looking to conservatize Democratic Party by working with what he terms its “reform wing.” “We don’t want to debate the Democrats,” said Gingrich. “We’ve won the debate. The welfare state is over.” . . . Washington lobbyists for avaricious trial lawyers growing frantic as Republicans appear serious about pushing Contract provisions for tort reform and limitations on liability damages. In addition to House support, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and freshman Sen. Spencer Abraham (R., Mich.) are pushing hard to limit contingency fees and give litigants incentives to settle suits. . . . Consensus to push deregulation also developing fast. USA Today reports warm reception given ABC’s 20/20 consumer reporter John Stossel, who told bipartisan group on Capitol Hill that regulation “suffocates the economy” and “in most cases does more harm than good,” while “the market polices itself.”
Comments