|
|
Article: Analysis; U.S. SENATE; Grams' failure to court moderates cited in loss.(NEWS)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- November 8, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Rod Grams bristled frequently about being labeled the "most vulnerable" U.S. senator by Washington oddsmakers, but all the liabilities that earned him that status conspired Tuesday to put DFLer Mark Dayton in his Senate seat.
Grams' unwavering conservatism, an unwillingness during six years in office to court moderate voters, the bad luck of facing a wealthy opponent who could heavily outspend and outadvertise him, well-publicized troubles in his personal life, and a few key tactical errors made the difference, political experts and insiders in both parties say.
"This defeat was years in the making," said Steven Schier, chairman of the Political Science Department at ...