I've been a regular poster at this site since 1998, which I think says SOMETHING about whether I follow politics or not, and I never heard of the guy. Sorry.
Be nice if some freeper could give us a little background on Crane and how come he lost.
I think Phil was considered a major conservative leader back in the 1970s and 80s before the Gingrich group rose to power. So Phil was less visible after that be he was always a stalwart conservative. At the 1979 YAF conference I attended, a small but vocal group of young people were very dedicated to Crane's run for president. They even preferred him to Gov Reagan. So Phil Crane was quite a hero to many conservatives for a long time.
The guy didn't register with me either, so you're in good company.
Zell Miller was probably not very well know outside of the South until the Republican Convention of this year, even though he has been an elected Democrat for decades, a keynote speaker at the 1992 Democrat Convention and a supporter of President Bush since being appointed to fill the term of Senator Coverdell.