Perot Issues O.C. a Party Invitation

Ross Perot ran a dash across California this weekend, seeking to win a line on the California ballot for his Reform Party in 1996.

The Texas billionaire made appearances across the state, pumping in money for advertising and the cost of the campaign to back up a pledge he made on television last Monday to create a national third party.

Perot spoke in Orange and Santa Clara counties Saturday, pushing his theme that several thousand California volunteers could “change the history of this country” by gathering signatures and registering voters in the new political party in time to meet the state-imposed deadline of Oct. 24. California has the earliest qualifying date in the country for parties seeking a place on the November, 1996 election.

Perot’s appearance coincides with the publication today in some 40 California newspapers of advertisements containing the petition, which must be signed by 890,064 voters to gain recognition for the party. The advertisements cost some $360,000, Perot said, but would “put a petition in 6 million houses come Sunday morning.” Alternatively, the party may register 89,007 members by the deadline.

“We will give them an October surprise,” said Perot, who ran a losing but vote-setting independent candidacy for President in 1992.

In addition to financing the newspaper blitz, the Perot organization--United We Stand America--brought in about 50 paid United We Stand officials from across the country. They will work full time at considerable expense, organizers said, helping direct the volunteer effort.

A dozen of the staffers were at the Saturday morning session in Buena Park, where about 400 volunteers heard Perot speak for 75 minutes. The volunteers also received detailed instructions at a workshop prior to the 11 a.m. address, learning how to gather signatures, register voters for the Reform Party and coordinate with local and regional headquarters by using an 800 number and the mail.

“Anything Perot does, I am right behind,” said Virginia Patton, of Dana Point, who attended the Buena Park event.

A group of Orange County Perot supporters, who formed a choir, sported T-shirts proclaiming the third party and sang patriotic songs before the workshops and Perot’s talk.

Perot was at a similar event Friday night attended by some 600 people in San Diego and is scheduled to be in Sacramento and Marin County today.

Russ Verney, national executive director of United We Stand America, said he is certain the volunteers would get the job done. “The folks in California want this, and when you see 500 people turn out here and in San Diego, that is quite a work force,” he said.

As part of the statewide effort, United We Stand America is opening five headquarters, each of them in areas that gave Perot substantial votes in 1992. Statewide, he received 19% of the vote, while winning 18% or 232,394 votes in Los Angeles County and 25% or 232,394 in Orange County. The offices will be in Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Marin County and Sacramento, with each responsible for regions around them, Verney said.

Political consultants believe the Perot organization can meet the deadline, especially because of his deep pockets.

“This is difficult but not impossible,” said Stu Mollrich, the well-known direct-mail and campaign specialist based in Orange County. “If you and I were a couple of rich guys who wanted to start a party in 30 days from scratch, it would cost a couple of million bucks if we just wanted to pay for everything.”

But Perot has visibility and an organization, said Mollrich, so the expense will be less.

“I just don’t know to what extent they are committed to this,” he said. “The way that organization runs is so mysterious. They generally stay away from hiring professionals.”

Mollrich speculated that it would be easier to gather the nearly 900,000 signatures than try to persuade 89,000 people to change parties or register with the Reform Party.

Allan Hoffenblum, the campaign consultant from Los Angeles, said Perot “certainly has the grass roots and the power to achieve the 90,000. As far as the million [signatures], it is just a question of will Perot open up his checkbook?

“You are not dealing with an impotent group,” said Hoffenblum, who said he had taught campaign organizing to the group in the past. “You are dealing with highly motivated people who are committed to the movement and the organization . . . and they have the names and addresses of these people.”

Verney said the effort will proceed on a dual track, trying to qualify through signatures and registration, then make a decision in 10 to 14 days about where to concentrate for the final push.

Attacking the complicated voter registration form that must be used in the state, Verney said the signature route probably would prove “easier because it is an easier decision for someone to make.” In addition, the signature drive will provide a valuable list for the campaign, he said.

Both he and Perot extolled the passion of the volunteers, saying they and not money would make the difference. Perot pointed out that it was a California volunteer who came up with the idea to distribute the petitions through newspaper advertisements. “The unit cost is 6 cents a household, “ he crowed. “Cheaper than mail.”

Volunteer empowerment was also evident during the workshop. A volunteer quietly suggested to the session leader that Anaheim Stadium would be fertile ground Saturday and Sunday because the California Angels are in a tight pennant race, and soon they were soliciting people to send to the games.

Volunteers will call an 800 number to turn in daily tallies and where they were solicited. Headquarters people will deploy volunteers based on those reports, sending additional workers to particularly fertile areas.

Nationally, Republican Party leaders reacted bitterly to Perot’s announcement of a third party, saying he is a spoiler who in 1992 elected Clinton.

Several Republican protesters displayed two signs at the event, held at the Sequoia Conference Center, but Perot turned them into a foil. Pointing to a sign that said “Clinton’s Puppet Party,” he noted that almost two-thirds of Americans tell pollsters they want a third party. “Read my lips. . . . This party will elect its candidate,” he said.

His address was a sometimes witty harangue containing a litany of Perotisms, and while it was heavy on identifying problems, it was short on solutions. He pressed his themes about eliminating lobbying and the trade deficit, instituting term limits, balancing the budget, fixing Medicare and Social Security, reforming the tax system and eviscerating the special interests.

He frequently returned to the “core issue” of restoring faith in government and building a “strong, growing job base” that will support the middle class and prime the tax pump.

Volunteers at the session included people from as far away as Santa Barbara, though the bulk were from Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The vast majority were white and older than 40. Many had been active in United We Stand America chapters and others were fresh to the group.

Some expressed support for Perot for President, while others said they favored retired Gen. Colin L. Powell, Pat Buchanan or others.

Jennifer Marks of Irvine described herself as favoring Gov. Pete Wilson until he dropped out Friday. A Republican, she said she favored the idea of a third party because “the others don’t seem to be solving the problems.” She said she is now undecided on a presidential favorite, but supported the party as a way to pressure the Republicans to fulfill their pledges, influence swing voters or pick an independent nominee.

On Friday evening at the San Diego event, Chris Alberts of Vista also said he embraced the party enthusiastically. “The Republicans and the Democrats are basically brain-dead,” Alberts said. “I’m interested in hearing new ideas. I voted for Perot the last time and I might again,” though his preference is for Powell.

Times staff writer Michael Granberry in San Diego contributed to this report.

* FIRST ON HIS BLOC: A look at O.C.’s first voter to join Perot’s new party. A32