GRAMM GONE

(By Bob Novak) - Although former Sen. Phil Gramm’s resignation as national co-chairman of McCain for President was considered to be essential by the campaign, he resigned on his own without being asked.

As this column reported a week ago, Gramm apologized to his old friend and political ally John McCain for embarrassing his candidacy, and McCain told him not to worry about it. Shortly thereafter, Gramm resigned rather than become an attack target for having called America “a nation of whiners” whose recession is “mental.”

The same McCain strategists who felt Gramm had to go also consider his departure a major loss. McCain valued Gramm’s economic and political advice.