March 9, 2000

Reform Party activists in more than 20 cities across America held press conferences this morning to urge Ross Perot to run as the Reform Party candidate for President this year. The press conferences were held at 10 a.m. in each time zone. The message was loud and clear: Run Ross, please run!

A growing grassroots draft Perot upsurge has resulted in local and coordinated media events being held today in the following cities: Trenton, NJ; Washington, DC; Richmond, VA; Louisville, KY; Maimi, FL; Hartford, CT; Milton, DE; Long Island, NY; San Diego, CA; Chicago, IL; Salem, OR; Scottsdale, AZ; Utica, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Dallas, TX; Portland, ME; Providence, RI; Nashville, TN; Helena, MT; and San Francisco, CA and Syracuse, NY. Activists have already collected thousands of signatures on petitions across the country to urge Perot to enter the presidential contest.

There are millions of people in America who see reform as the cutting-edge issue in this presidential race, stated Jim Mangia, national secretary of the Reform Party and the founder of the draft Perot effort. Ross Perot brought the issue of reform to the American people in his 1992 and 1996 campaigns. Every quote, every speech, every commercial run by John McCain has been a carbon copy of the words Ross Perot uttered in his previous presidential campaigns. America needs political reform and a campaign by Ross Perot would guarantee that it remains on the front burne in the 2000 presidential campaign!

Pat Muth, a Perot supporter since 1992, who is one of the leaders of the draft Perot effort stated, At the Reform Party's national convention last summer, Ross Perot said if we asked he'd sweep floors or sleep under a bridge. Well, where we need him is in the White House. We know Ross Perot would never sell nights in the Lincoln Bedroom, and would restore dignity and respect to the President's House and honesty and hope to our country.

Perot supporters are urging those who want to get involved to contact them via their website: http://www.draftrossperot.org. The site includes information on the campaign, an online petition and a downloadable petition form for collecting additional signatures.

The Reform Party nominee in 2000 will have $12.5 million in federal matching funds to run his or her presidential campaign. The current front-runner for the Reform Party presidential nomination is Pat Buchanan.

NATIONAL MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jim Mangia (Los Angeles, CA) 323-654-7409 / Pat Muth (Tallahassee, FL) 850-878-0918