THE '96 RACE . . . GRAMM'S IN

Texas Republican Sen. Phil Gramm, long known to harbor presidential ambitions, all but declared his bid for the 1996 GOP nomination today. He says he'll make it official Feb. 24 at a ceremony in his hometown of College Station, Tx. Gramm told reporters in Atlanta today that he'll follow his kickoff speech with a swing through Georgia, where he was born, and then the early primary states of New Hampshire, Iowa and Arizona. Gramm, the combative elder statesman of the Republican Party's conservative wing, is a close ally of House Speaker-elect Newt Gingrich.Post your opinion on theWashingtonbulletin board.