On The Sidelines

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 14) -- Two of the most interesting people in presidential politics today aren't in the race.

Retired Gen. Colin Powell and Texas billionaire Ross Perot are sitting on the sidelines, as the nation waits to see what they will do.

Powell, publicly and privately, continues to rebuff speculation that he is interested in being Sen.Robert Dole's running mate.

A Powell associate, Ken Duberstein, threw cold water on the idea as recently as Wednesday. "What he (Powell) is saying privately, he is also saying publicly.There has been no change. This person has decided he is not going to be a candidate, period." For vice president, too? "That's correct," Duberstein said.

But even Dole, basking in two consecutive Tuesdays of big victories, has allowed himself to speculate about Powell. The question is how Powell would respond to persistent persuasion from party leaders saying: "With you, we win. Without you, we lose."

A CNN/Time Poll last week suggested just that, and a new Field Poll in California today says the retired general would help the Republican ticket in the Golden State more than if Dole made Gov. Pete Wilson his running mate.

According to the Field Poll, 45 percent of California voters said they would be more inclined to vote for the GOP ticket if Powell was the vice presidential nominee.

In addition, 36 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of independent voters would also be more likely to vote Republican if Powell were the vice presidential candidate, the poll found.

"This shows Powell's great political star quality," pollster Mervin Field told the Associated Press. "His popularity is phenomenal, especially since most voters know so little about him. And Wilson is unpopular in California because he alienated people by breaking his promise not to run for president. He's lost whatever luster he had."

If Powell is trying to discourage speculation, Perot has sent tantalizing signals that he could jump into the race as a candidate of his embryonic Reform Party. Perot ran as an independent in 1992 and was credited with siphoning enough votes away from George Bush to assure Bill Clinton's election.

Perot is no fan of Clinton or Dole and in a recent interview with The Washington Post, the eccentric businessman said: "I cannot live with myself knowing what these problems are and seeing the people in government not facing these problems."

Reform Party organizers and volunteers are working to get on the ballot in all 50 states this fall.

Campaign finance laws could provide a big incentive for Perot to run again. If he runs, he could once again use his fortune to pay campaign bills. But if the Reform Party, which plans a late summer convention, nominates someone else, Perot would be limited to contributing no more than $1,000 to the candidate, just like anyone else.

Perot is scheduled to appear on CNN's "Larry King Live" on March 22 and could drop more hints about his plans then.

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