Perot Heads to Maine to Rally Support for Watchdog Group

Billionaire businessman Ross Perot today is kicking off what is billed as a national tour to boost his watchdog group in the state where he scored his best showing in the presidential election.

But Perot, who made few public appearances during the campaign and none in Maine, has not said where else he will go in the drive for United We Stand, America, Inc.

Nevertheless, local organizers say interest has been strong for the three appearances Perot is scheduled to make in Maine, at Orono, Rockland and Portland.

State coordinator Stephen Bost said Perot chose Maine for his first rallies because state voters gave him his strongest showing in the presidential election. Perot came in second in Maine with 30.4% of the votes cast. That placed him just ahead of George Bush.

Organizers said that in the past two days they had received more than 1,000 phone calls from people interested in attending the Maine rallies. Buses are expected to bring many people in from neighboring New England states.

Perot created United We Stand, America to harness the efforts of the millions of people he referred to as “the volunteers” who urged him to run for President.

The group launched a national membership drive on Jan. 11 with television advertisements aired in several parts of the country. The organization promotes Perot’s call for action to eliminate the federal deficit and to return more political decision-making power to the people. Its name is derived from the book Perot published last year before he entered the presidential race.

The gatherings will be the first large public events Perot has held since he finished third behind Bill Clinton and Bush in the Nov. 3 election. Perot received 19% of the popular vote nationwide but no electoral votes, despite spending about $60 million of his own money.

Each rally is expected to include a speech by Perot, followed by a town meeting-style question-and-answer session--a format similar to what he used during his White House bid.

Perot is expected to talk about the need for economic and government reform.