Sunday, July 28, 1996

Many agree that Perot has lost appeal since '92 campaignBy Adam Hime

Summer Bruin Contributor

Four years ago, Ross Perot was getting ready to pack his bags and move to the White House. It seemed America was ready for an "outsider" as nationwide polls showed the Texas billionaire ahead of major party candidates Bill Clinton and George Bush.

But by the 1992 November elections, Perot , despite attaining 19 percet of the popular vote, failed to receive even one vote in the Electoral College. Since then, Perot has been busy working to build a party in an attempt to position himself for another presidential bid this fall.

Yet some campus leaders feel that Perot's chances at the presidency disappeared when he lost the election four years ago.

"I don't think people who vote for him expect him to win," said Jason Steele, the Chairman of Bruin Republicans. "They may not want to waste their vote again (this year)."

The Reform Party, created by Perot, will be nominating its presidential candidate in two weeks.

Though Perot has spent millions of dollars to build the party and assure its place on the ballot in 23 states, lifelong Democrat and former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm will challenge Perot for the Reform Party nomination.

There are 1.3 million Americans whom the Reform Party considers members. If both Lamm and Perot garner support with at least 10 percent of the party during this week, they will be eligible to compete for the party's nomination.The convention, in which the nominee for the party will be announced will be held in Valley Forge, Penn., on Aug. 18.

In the week preceeding the Valley Forge convention, the party members will cast their votes to decide whether to follow Perot or Lamm. If party members choose Lamm, they will effectively vote Perot out of the leadership role he has taken in the party he created.

Given the fact that Perot founded the Reform Party, and has built it himself, many view Lamm's mission of toppling Perot as a difficult one. When asked about this obstacle, the former governor said, "I'm not at all sure that I don't have a 50/ 50 chance (to win the nomination)."

Lamm served as governor of Colorado for four terms, from 1975-1987. During this era, highlighted by the administrations of Carter and Reagan, Lamm acquired the nickname "Governor Gloom" because of his pessimistic outlook toward the future, and his moves to cut government programs for the elderly.

Perot's appeal for voters has dropped significantly in the past four years. A national survey conducted in April indicated that 46 percent of the people who voted for Perot in 1992 would not support him in 1996.

Perot and Lamm agree on critical issues within the Reform Party, such as campaign finance reform. They criticize the major party candidates because of the large amount of money they recieve from special interest groups.

Both candidates also agree on the necessity to balance the budget, and reform Medicare and Social Security, in order to make the programs more cost effective .

Though Lamm hopes to capitalize on Perot's current low approval ratings, one UCLA student, who supported Perot in 1992, plans to support President Clinton this year.

"I thought (Perot) was the best as far as the economy," said fifth-year student Matthew Hicks, a Perot voter in 1992.

Though Lamm and Perot share views on the issues that bind the Reform Party, they differ on their views of trade policy. Lamm, who supports free trade, along with President Clinton and former Senator Dole, differs from Perot who prefers protectionist trade policies. Perot has opposed trade contracts such as the North American Free Trade Aggreement (NAFTA). This is the program instituted by President Clinton which allows free trade between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Conservative journalist Pat Buchanan, who finished second in the race for the Republican Party presidential nomination, also opposes free trade. Last Sunday, Buchanan warned that a Perot candidacy would destroy the Republican party.

"The Perot candidacy, as opposed to Governor Lamm," Buchanan explained , "is a mortal threat to the Republican Party in 1996, because Ross Perot can win the Buchanan voters."

However, it is still not entirely clear whether the Reform party candidate will take a larger block of voters from the Republicans or the Democrats in the upcoming elections.

"I think he'll end up taking more from the Republicans than the Democrats," argued Mike Schneider, president of Bruin Democrats.

"(The Reform Party has) become a very right wing party," said Schneider, citing the stand Perot took against NAFTA in 1994.

Schneider also agrees with the Bruin Republican position that Perot will likely garner less overall support than he did in 1992, adding, "In the last four years a lot of people have realized that he's not exactly a strong candidate."

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With reports from Bruin wire services.