As usual, only a few people close to Perot knew his thinking, and few others cared. But while the endorsement probably won’t have much impact on Bush’s campaign, it came as a final, stunning blow to Perot’s remaining Reform loyalists. “It’s a sad way to end a movement that had such an impact,” says Jim Mangia, a ranking Perotista. The term “Perot voter” came to signify the kind of angry centrist that every candidate now courts. But Perot’s movement crumbled as he grew more reclusive and lost control of Reform to the Buchanan brigades. In the end, says Perot aide Russell Verney, Perot gave up on third parties, realizing they’re “destined to lose.” This time, he hopes he picked a winner.
