Perot’s Party May Push Up Convention

DALLAS — Under deadline pressure to identify its presidential candidate, Ross Perot’s Reform Party may try to sandwich its nominating convention between the Democratic and Republican conventions in August.

Perot had hoped to have the Reform Party wait until Labor Day to pick its candidate, but some states require earlier notice to get a candidate on the November ballot.

Perot initially promised an April presidential primary that never materialized. And he has given up on getting the Reform Party on the ballot in some states, instead taking the easier route of putting himself on the ballot as an independent candidate who could be replaced if he’s not the party nominee.

Perot has said he will run for president if that is what the party decides at its convention.

Russ Verney, national coordinator for the Reform Party, said Wednesday that a likely convention date would be between the Republican and Democratic conventions. Republicans meet Aug. 12-15 in San Diego; Democrats, Aug. 26-29 in Chicago. Verney added that it was not impossible the Reform meeting would overlap one of the major-party conventions.

Perot envisions a Reform Party convention at an undetermined location that connects to supporters around the country through electronic and video links.

Spokeswoman Sharon Holman said mail-in votes, electronic balloting, C-SPAN coverage, and a computer Internet link all are being considered.