The nominating convention of the Reform Party stands in sharp contrast to the expensive, orchestrated public relations unity of the two major parties. There was no effort to sign, seal and deliver a Reform presidential ticket to a nationally televised convention. On the contrary. Clinton advisor George Stephanopolous made a public appeal on Sunday to Reform Party voters to back the Democratic ticket on the grounds that the President had reduced the deficit during his first term, another sign that the Reform movement and Perot are helping to set the national issues agenda. The Reform Party is nothing short of a new political form of life.
Traditional wisdom says third parties impact gradually and minimally.
But in less than a year of existence, Reform has put the independent voting bloc in play, helped to set the national issues agenda and put a third party on the map. Ross Perot is a very rich man who knows how to make money in America and spend money for America. Jacqueline Salit is the editor of the Patriot News and is an executive committee member of the National Patriot Party which is supporting the Reform Party process. Since 1979, Salit has worked as a political consultant on dozens of local and national independent political campaigns. All rights reserved.