Willie Brown Says Party Should Consider Perot Draft Over Clinton : Democrats: Speaker of California Assembly voices concern over character issues, ultimate electability of the front-runner.

The Democratic Party should consider drafting Texas billionaire Ross Perot as its candidate for President if front-runner Bill Clinton continues to struggle with character questions, California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown said Tuesday.

“If by circumstances it’s clear that (Clinton) is not electable . . . I think the party will have to find another candidate and I think Ross Perot would be the most natural place to go,” Brown said.

Brown is among a growing number of influential Democrats who have publicly acknowledged their uneasiness with Clinton’s presidential bid. In the last few weeks, Pennsylvania Gov. Robert P. Casey has expressed serious reservations about the Arkansas governor.

Citing a new Los Angeles Times Poll showing Perot and President Bush running even in California with Clinton running third, Brown told reporters in two separate interviews that he shares concerns that Clinton may not be a viable candidate. Clinton has been dogged by allegations involving his character, including marital infidelity and his Vietnam-era draft status.

“Absolutely, I’m concerned . . .” Brown said. “I want to win.”

Perot has said he will run as an independent if volunteers get his name on general election ballots in all 50 states. More recently, he has indicated that if he gets on virtually all ballots he will run, and has pledged to make a decision by June. So far, he is on the ballot only in Tennessee, although supporters in Florida and Texas this week said they have collected enough signatures to qualify him there.

Although Perot may eventually prove incompatible with Democrats once his positions and ideology are better known, Brown said, “I think he is attractive to the public.”

He added: “I think that is the one element that we have never had in our candidate. We’ve had candidates who believed, candidates who were principled, candidates who were charming, candidates who were handsome, but none of them have ever put the factors together to become acceptable to the public. And if we find one who starts with acceptability to the public, then it’s appropriate to examine the remainder of his characteristics.”

Brown noted that during television appearances last weekend Perot aimed most of his criticism at Bush and singled out Republicans--not Democrats--for attacking him.

“I interpreted that comment as being almost a solicitation of consideration by Ross Perot,” Brown said. “I take that seriously. I think we in the Democratic Party ought to take it seriously.”

In Clinton’s defense, Brown said the Arkansas governor should make more personal appearances with voters because “Clinton comes off best when Clinton explains Clinton.”

“He is a very persuasive . . . candidate,” Brown said. “But the history and the jacket that’s been tied to him, in some cases prompted by his own conduct . . . those things have stuck with him. The term ‘Slick Willie’ is staying with him in many cases, and that’s causing a level of discomfort for voters that may even prompt them to embrace George Bush. I personally don’t think that is the case at this moment.”