Phil Gramm Steps Down From John McCain Camp

The former Texas senator was an early supporter of Mr. McCain and frequently accompanied him at campaign appearances and served as a surrogate and economic adviser. But the candidate repudiated Mr. Gramm’s remarks last week, and his efforts to clarify that he was talking about the nation’s leaders, not regular citizens, were evidently unsuccessful.

Mr. Gramm issued a statement late Friday evening:

It is clear to me that Democrats want to attack me rather than debate Senator McCain on important economic issues facing the country. That kind of distraction hurts not only Senator McCain’s ability to present concrete programs to deal with the country’s problems, it hurts the country. To end this distraction and get on with the real debate, I hereby step down as Co-Chair of the McCain Campaign and join the growing number of rank-and-file McCain supporters.