Perot Makes A Comeback Dole’s Failures, Clinton’s Scandals Have Re-Energized Texan’s Campaign

Two weeks ago, Ross Perot agreed to visit his campaign’s Chicago office to cheer up the troops. But it was the troops that did the cheering. Marginalized at 5 percent, Perot looked wan, dispirited and about as animated as a wax museum dummy.

Now, after weeks of stagnation in the polls, Perot’s campaign has begun to sputter back to life. Republican nominee Bob Dole’s botched attempt to get the Texas billionaire to drop out of the race, and questions about the Clinton administration’s campaign financing - a core issue for Perot - have combined to re-energize his candidacy.

“He is very visible on the campaign finance problems of Bill Clinton, and he has gotten a lot of ink and air time on that. If anything, that is doing it,” said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Center on the People and the Press, who believes Perot has begun to cut into Clinton’s support.

No one believes that Perot can win Tuesday’s election. His unfavorable ratings have run as high as 60 percent, and some of his new support doubtlessly comes from people who do not wish to cast votes for either Dole or Clinton.

But his ratings have inched up - to 10 points in Friday’s CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, and some believe he will do even better on Tuesday. In 1992, his poll numbers were several points below the 19 percent of the vote he received on election day.

His goal is simple: To pull in the 25 percent of the vote needed to qualify his fledgling Reform Party for full federal campaign financing in 2000. With that in mind, Perot is spending like a drunken sailor on 30-second ads and half-hour infomercials, including three during prime time on election eve on NBC, CBS and ABC.

Meanwhile, in a haphazard strategy that doesn’t seem aimed at any particular state or region, he has directed his appeals to the nation’s military veterans, small-business owners, the politically alienated and college students.

Since Dole asked Perot to leave the race, the Texan has largely ignored the former Senate majority leader and increased his attacks on Clinton, trying to make himself appear the more viable alternative to the president.

He is hoping especially to draw disillusioned Republicans turned off by Dole’s struggling campaign; Democrats who remain unsold on Clinton; and those who are disgusted with both major parties and want to cast a protest vote.

“From here on in the recognition that Dole can’t win is obvious,” said Russell Verney, national coordinator of Perot’s campaign. “The question now is whether American voters are to endorse Bill Clinton, the man and his policies, or do they want to endorse Reform Party candidates Ross Perot and (vice presidential candidate) Pat Choate.”