Few of us have fond memories of H. Ross Perot — the constant references to a “giant sucking sound,” the accusations that Republicans tried to ruin his daughter’s wedding, the infomercials, the mysterious charges that Black Panthers invaded his home, etc.
Nevertheless, he ran for president twice — 1992 and 1996 — and managed to find a few million Americans who thought he should be leader of the free world. In fact, Perot got 19% of the popular vote in ’92, which was the best showing for a third party candidate since Teddy Roosevelt ran as a Progressive in 1912.
Perot has since left the stage. His once-burgeoning Reform Party has fallen apart. It’s only successful statewide candidate ever — Jesse Ventura in Minnesota — quickly disassociated himself from the party after his election. (And if Jesse Ventura is embarrassed to be tied to your party, you know you’ve got problems.)
Of course, since 2004 is desperate to be 1992 redux, why not have Perot return to the stage? After all, we’ve got another Bush in the White House, unemployment is too high, the deficit is the largest in American history, the stock market is down, the Democrats are fighting amongst themselves as to whether to nominate someone electable … Perot is the only thing missing to make next year exactly like 1992.
A story in Salon today explains that Perot is “positioning himself as a voice to reckon with in 2004,” with a book he’s writing on all the economic issues he cares about, complete with the charts he became famous for in 1992.
Salon’s Micah Sifry, who received a detailed copy of Perot’s book proposal, said he had the distinct impression that Perot may be “launching this new effort in time for 2004 he can crack the Republican lock on power again, to stop the party’s ‘radical agenda’ and prevent a ‘fiscal disaster.'”
I hate to break it to Perot, but his star fell a long time ago. He may try and recapture some of that 1992 magic, but I don’t see Americans paying much attention this time.