Gramm Trounces Field In Maine Gop Straw Poll But Party Vote Attracted Little Attention From Dole, Others

Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas cruised to victory in the Maine Republican Party’s straw poll Saturday, trouncing absent Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and two other Senate colleagues who personally campaigned for votes.

State party officials said Gramm’s total of 602 votes gave him more than 42 percent of the ballots cast. Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana was second with 303 votes, or 21 percent.

Dole, whose partisans insisted they had done little organizing in advance, got 144 votes, or 10 percent.

Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who urged delegates to send a message that mainstream Republicans were regaining control of the GOP, was fourth with 118 votes, about 8 percent.

Dole’s absence and Colin Powell’s unknown intentions prompted much discussion among delegates during the day.

A top Dole ally in Maine, Republican National Committeeman Ken Cole, shrugged off the significance of the affair.

“Not many minds have been changed,” Cole said, pronouncing himself satisfied that Dole maintained “a strong enough, deep enough base of support.”

But Gramm supporters exulted in the results. “He did real well in talking down to earth,” said Doug Mayo, one of numerous collegiate Republicans who turned out for the Texan.

Amid the signs and stickers for announced candidates, a smattering of delegates sported “Powell for President” buttons. Gordon Lane of Houlton said he had a supply of 450 to hand out.

“I think he’s the man who can bring the party together and expand the base,” said Lane. “Too many of the candidates are staking out too small a base.”

Organizers said more than 1,900 registered Republicans from around the state paid $15 each to express their preference, but the final tally showed that fewer than 1,500 voted.

Gramm, Lugar and Specter all mounted aggressive drives for support.

Rep. Robert Dornan of California, who also spoke, took 84 votes. Among the other participants: Morry Taylor 73 votes, Charles Collins 29 and Tom Shellenberg 2.

Besides Dole, non-participants who received support included Patrick Buchanan, with 41 votes, Malcolm Forbes Jr. with 9, Alan Keyes with 7 and Lamar Alexander with 6.

Gramm took aim at President Clinton, who “didn’t grow up in the same America as I did.

“I was a foot soldier in the Reagan revolution … I want to finish the Reagan revolution,” Gramm declared.

He said he looked forward to defeating Clinton as a way to “end this politics of class warfare and envy in America once and for all.

“We’re not going to change America by cutting deals with Democrats in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “I will cut no deals with America’s future.”