McCain chair quits after 'whiners' comment

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Republican Sen. Phil Gramm said Friday he is stepping down as co-chairman of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign after comments in which he called Americans "a nation of whiners."

Gramm, of Texas, told the Washington Times last week that the nation's economic troubles are only a "mental recession" and said that the U.S. economy is "not as bad as you read in the newspaper every day."

In a written statement released Friday after the close of the business day, Gramm said he had become a distraction for McCain since the comments.