Wednesday, August 23, 1995
The Milford Cabinet P.1

Some Republicans cry foul
   By Bob Mackintosh, Cabinet editor


   AMHERST-- The Gramm showing in Iowa wasn't the only talk at the GOP
   picnic. Much was said about the Gramm turnout at the picnic, where the
   Texas senator's supporters stole the show.
   
   Several people at the picnic slammed the Gramm organization for buying
   up a large block of available tickets. According to Hillsborough
   County GOP chair Darlene Goodin of New Boston, prior to the picnic the
   Gramm campaign, or those with ties to organization, bought 180 of the
   300 tickets available. Even more Gramm supporters bought tickets on
   Sunday. As a result, 371 tickets were purchased.
   
   The Gramm campaign had sent out postcards inviting Republicans to join
   Gramm at the Republican picnic at the home of Joe Luongo.
   
   Luongo, who has hosted the event for four years, was surprised by the
   insinuation that he was throwing a Gramm affair, especially since he¹s
   on Bob Dole's steering committee. Gramm postcards that were
   undeliverable somehow ended back in Luongo's post office box.
   
   "It's very discouraging at times," said Goodin, "because every
   campaign runs things differently. But when one campaign or another
   tries to take over the barbecue...."
   
   Goodin said she felt bad for Char Lugar, Sen. Richard Lugar's wife,
   who was speaking when Gramm arrived, setting off his supporters.
   
   The resulting noise made it "difficult" to hear her.
   
   Gramm staffers, however, saw nothing wrong with the invitation.
   
   The campaign, said press secretary Dennis O¹Connor, received an
   invitation from Goodin. Gramm supporters, said O¹Connor, paid for
   their own tickets.
   
   "My sense is the other campaigns were disappointed" by the turnout of
   their supporters. It was O'Connor's opinion other campaigns were
   "expressing sour grapes."


The Milford Cabinet
Wednesday, August 23, 1995
P.1

   A triumphant Gramm campaigns in Amherst
   By Bob Mackintosh, Cabinet editor
   

   AMHERST--It was billed as a Hillsborough County Republican picnic, but
   it became a campaign rally for Sen. Phil Gramm.
   
   On the heels of his strong showing in the Iowa straw poll Saturday,
   the presidential candidate stepped out of his car at Joe Luongo's
   Amherst Street property Sunday afternoon with his index finger aloft,
   greeted by a large throng of supporters.
   
   Prior to Gramm's arrival, the picnic was a chance for locals to sit
   down and eat lunch with fellow Republicans, pick up information on
   presidential candidates and listen to speakers put forth the
   Republican message. All that changed when the Texas senator stopped
   by.
   
   In Iowa Saturday night 10,598 votes were cast in the straw poll. Gramm
   and Sen. Bob Dole each received 2,582 votes. Pat Buchanan ended with
   1,922 votes and Lamar Alexander finished fourth.
   
   Several Republicans at the picnic saw the Iowa straw poll as tainted,
   because anyone purchasing a $25 ticket could vote, and candidates
   bused in supporters. What it meant, they said, was Gramm had a good
   organization.
   
   Gramm downplayed any suggestion that he bought the results, instead
   leveling charges that Buchanan, his wife and sister, bought 15,000
   tickets, instead of the 100 each candidate was asked to purchase.
   Gramm conceded his campaign provided transportation for supporters,
   but requested donations to cover costs. The Buchanan campaign has
   reportedly asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate
   alleged pressure by Gramm on supporters and their employees.
   
   Nobody could deny the effect the results had on the New Hampshire
   effort.
   
   The straw poll, said N.H. Sen. (and Gramm backer) Bob Smith, gives the
   Gramm campaign a "huge" bounce in the Granite State. Prior to the Iowa
   results, said Smith, political pundits were "writing off" Gramm,
   saying the campaign was stalled. Such talk, said Smith, was "pure
   nonsense." The showing also "burst the bubble that Bob Dole is
   infallible."
   
   The two keys to the Iowa showing, said Smith, were organization and
   the Gramm message.
   
   That message was the theme of Gramm's speech inside the old Amherst
   Village Fire Station now on Luongo's property.
   
   "As president, I want to finish the Reagan Revolution," said Gramm, in
   between cheers and chants by his supporters. "Less government and more
   freedom. Washington is making too many decisions ... how your money's
   spent, how your business is run, how your child is educated."
   
   "I want to take that decision-making authority back to your family,"
   said Gramm. "I want to balance the federal budget the way you set your
   family budget."
   
   Gramm said the Iowa results were a signal that "people have not
   forgotten" Dole's "big government" compromise on Bill Clinton's failed
   health care plan, and remembered that "I stood up and said Clinton's
   health care plan would pass "over my cold, dead political body."
   
   Former Congressman and Republican analyst Chuck Douglas said after
   Gramm's speech that the Iowa results gave the Gramm camp "a needed
   boost...it showed they're (the campaign) finally getting the hang of
   it."
   
   The poll also shows, said Douglas, "that all three (Dole, Gramm and
   Buchanan) have tremendous grass roots support."
   
   Gramm said the results show that if he can beat Dole (from Kansas) in
   his own backyard, "We can beat him anywhere.
   
   "I believed Dole was going to win," Gramm said. "I didn't foresee this
   incredible turn of events. The result was far more overwhelming than I
   had hoped for."
   
   Also speaking at the picnic was Char Lugar, wife of candidate Sen.
   Richard Lugar. Other campaigns were also represented: Sen. Bob Dornan
   and talk show host Alan Keyes were scheduled to attend, but were
   no-shows.