Perot Plans Campaign-Type Trips to Two California Cities

Ross Perot, who has promoted his unofficial presidential candidacy largely through appearances on national television, plans to make campaign-type visits to two California cities--Irvine and Sacramento--and three other states within the next two weeks.

According to a schedule issued Friday by the Perot campaign staff, the Texas tycoon is to speak at a Thursday morning rally on the Capitol steps in Sacramento, then appear at an afternoon event at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheater.

Next Friday, Perot is to headline a gathering of his supporters in Denver, and on Saturday, he is to participate in a parade and rally in Boston. On June 24, he is to travel to a rally in Annapolis, Md., where he will be greeted by a flotilla of 24 boats. Annapolis is the home of the United States Naval Academy, where Perot was graduated in 1953.

At the Sacramento rally, supporters plan to stage a “symbolic submission” of petitions being circulated to qualify Perot as a presidential candidate on the state’s November ballot, according to rally organizer Marianne Sattler.

Qualifying Perot for the California ballot requires the submission of petitions signed by 135,000 registered voters by Aug. 7. His California backers have expressed optimism that they easily will meet that requirement.

Perot’s anticipated independent bid for the White House already has qualified in 13 states, including Florida, New Jersey and Texas.

Since Perot first broached his prospective candidacy in March, he has appeared at three rallies--in Austin, Tex.; Little Rock, Ark. and Las Vegas.