What does DU'ers think of this...If Ross Perot had not dropped out..

[HardWorkingDem]

the first time, what do Du'ers think his final percentage would have been?

I was so happy when he dropped out and can remember to the moment when I heard he was re-entering the race and how frightened I got. So my question is, if he had not dropped out the first time, instead of the 19 percent, what do Du'ers think he could have gotten?

And did his dropping out have a negative impact on future third parties?

[sfdiva]

1. I never vote for a third party candidate ...

I blamed all people who voted 3rd party in 2004 so bad .. Now I am over it buit I still wont vote 3rd party

[Syrinx]

2. I think he would have had a decent chance of winning

I remember watching him and Al Gore debate NAFTA. I was under the effects of a morphine drip, and it was surreal. (I was in the hospital after a serious auto accident.)

But I do recall that Gore wiped Larry King's floor with Perot. But nowadays, I actually agree with Perot on the NAFTA thing.

If Perot had won, we'd have had a crazy president for four years, but certainly not any crazier than we've had for six now.

And I'm not sure if it would have helped break the political duopoly, or set the third-party movement back decades.

[Awsi Dooger]

3. Very interesting question

Several points higher but a third party candidate wasn't/isn't going to win. Clinton defeated Perot by 24 points.

I was never worried about Perot despite the snapshot polls that summer. The economy and Bush 41's approval ratings slanted all the advantages in our favor and Clinton had the charisma necessary to oust an incumbent. Likewise, the GOP had controlled the White House three straight terms so fatigue had set in. Neither party has managed four in a row since FDR/ Truman.

[HardWorkingDem]

8. What I wonder about third parties is..

if Perot had not dropped out and flamed out, would the possibility of a third party have grown from a successful campaign? And did his campaign sort of doom them from the start.

I'm not sure and just asking.

[sandnsea]

4. He crazied himself out

And he would have done that whether he dropped out and came back - or not. And as much as I admire Admiral Stockdale, he was just sad sad sad in his debate. It would have ended up pretty near the same as it did I imagine.

[HardWorkingDem]

7. It's almost like he didn't want to win....

This is what has always had me wondering - it's like he really didn't want to become president. Like you, I had nothing but admiration for Stockdale, but his selection as a running mate was quite odd.

[primative1]

5. I was a perot Volunteer in 92 ..

Saw little or no difference in support before or after the event. His "america first" message was the same and the GOP dirty trick story was perfectly acceptable. I know you guys hated Perot but knowing the GOP do you doubt it?

[NaturalHigh]

6. I voted for him in '92.

It was my first time to vote in a presidential election. I still have a lot of respect for him, but I don't know that I would vote for him again.