Gravel Slows Down

After months of energetic campaigning, it appears that Mike Gravel is finally giving up his fight. Although I could not find any source that announced his official withdrawl, his personal websited was not updated, and he didn't seem to be campaigning anywhere this week (a rarity for Gravel.) Furthermore, Gravel's website advertised his newly revised book-not his campaign, thus implying that he was slowing down his vigorous fight. However, although Gravel may not be running as ardently for president as he once did, his dissension of the state of our nation, and the candidacies of Obama and Clinton, are two elements that are still in full swing. In fact, Gravel speaks about such topics in his book, Citizen Power, stating, “Most Americans today are frustrated and confused. They are told by everyone that they are ‘the richest people in the world’ and ‘the world’s freest nation.’ Yet, they see poverty in the midst of plenty and continued erosion of their civil liberties. . . . People are tired of liberal ‘promises’ and conservative ‘game plans’ which offer the rhetoric of hope but, in reality, merely protect and perpetuate the status quo. . . ." Gravel's tenacity may have decreased in the presidential primaries, but his words and opinions remains as sharp as ever.

Sources Used: www.Myspace.com/MikeGravel
www.gravel2008.com

Gravel

There isn't much new in Gravel's campaign. He is being compared to Ralph Nader because of his stubbornness in staying on the Democratic ballot, but even being the third candidate doesn't mean any more votes are being shepherded towards him - he has zero delegates, to be exact. Actually, searching for Mike Gravel in news articles unfortunately brings up some articles about... gravel. Yes, the gravel you find in asphalt. Or, perhaps referencing a race track? A positive note: Gravel got 1 vote of 1992 registered Democratic votes in Malibu.

On another note, beliefnet.com rated Mike Gravel's "spiritual rating" (0 is secular; 10 is theocrat) to be a 4. In comparison, Bill Richardson and Mike Huckabee each pulled an 8
and Thompson got a 3.

Bloggers are noting in amazement how the media is thoroughly ignoring Mike Gravel's (often radical) statements about war and the Constitution and rights. While they "...may have suggested Dennis Kucinich was a space alien,...they didn't let on Gravel ever existed."

Gravel fights for a cause

Despite his many financial setbacks, Gravel continues to campaign around the country. Last week, he gave speeches at Columbia and Yale University, and is heading west this week to speak with students at UC Berkely. Furthermore, Gravel recently posted a lengthy speech on his website, praising Edwards' efforts in the race, and asserting that he was the much more honest and genuine president that Clinton or Obama. Gravel claimed that Clinton and Obama have no intentions of ending the war, and that they are both backed by and therefore in support of corporate-interests. Such rhetoric is quite extreme considering both candidates base their campaigns on the "people's" best interest and "ending the war in Iraq." However, it is not surprising that Gravel, who has received less than 1% of votes in the Democratic primaries, and is running out of funds, will make bold comments to gain media attention. Still despite the cloud of doom that continues to surround his chances of success (he actually can't feasibly win by this point), Gravel insists, "Winning the nomination isn’t the only reason some of us run for the highest office in the country. We persevere because we care deeply for our country, and we subject ourselves to the grueling schedule and the often unflattering media spotlight because we believe in the importance of the issues that we bring to the table." While Gravel's campaign may not be an unpredictable one like Obama's or Hillary's, Gravel's harsh rhetoric is indubitably entertaining!.

sources used: http://www.gravel2008.us/