Jon Karl: Senate loses 'brilliant legislative tactician' in Gramm

Karl

A day after Sen. Phil Gramm formally announced his retirement, CNN Congressional Correspondent Jonathan Karl discusses the impact of the Texas Republican's departure from the U.S. Senate:

Q: What are the larger implications of Gramm's retirement?

A: His decision to step aside robs the Republicans of one of their most brilliant legislative tacticians. Gramm has been the kind of Republican really feared by Democrats because of his tenacity and ability to get his way. What's interesting about Gramm is that he became a major power within the Republican leadership, including his position as ranking GOP member of the Banking Committee, without compromising his conservative principles. He was more of an ideologue than a pragmatist, but he was an ideologue who could get things done.

Q: How is his departure likely to affect the partisan balance of power in the Senate?

A: If Gramm had run again, he most likely would have easily won re-election. By leaving, he creates an open Senate seat and, hence, an opportunity for the Democrats that simply would not have been there if he was staying in the race. That said, Texas is a strongly Republican state where every statewide office is now in GOP hands. But the Democrats have a couple of potentially strong candidates who they believe could make this into a strong race.

Q: How does the field of potential candidates shape up at this time?

A: On the Democratic side, the mayor of Dallas, Ron Kirk, is considered a likely candidate. He's politically moderate, popular, wealthy and African-American. Democrats believe he would have strong statewide appeal. Another Democratic hopeful is Dan Morales, a former state attorney general. There's been speculation that Henry Cisneros, housing secretary in the Clinton Cabinet and former mayor of San Antonio, might enter the race. But several Texas Democrats close to Cisneros tell CNN he will not run. On the GOP side, the candidate favored by many national Republicans is Rep. Henry Bonilla, who represents a district on the Mexican border that is 70 percent minority. He's very close to President Bush and was one of his earliest supporters in his campaign for the White House. Bonilla tells CNN he will make a decision on whether to run within the next few days. Another Republican considered almost certain to run is David Dewhirst, the lands commissioner for the state of Texas -- wealthy enough to finance his own campaign and currently a candidate for lieutenant governor. The current attorney general, John Cornyn, is another potential GOP candidate.

Q: Are other retirements expected that could affect the Senate's balance of power?

A: Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tennessee, still has not said whether he will run, and two other Republicans -- Craig Thomas of Wyoming and Frank Murkowski of Alaska -- are both seriously considering running for governor in their respective states. All of the Democrats up for re-election next year say they will run.