Lamm Says He Has Even Chance To Defeat Perot

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, July 17) -- Former Colorado governor Dick Lamm estimated he has a "50-50 chance" at defeating Texas billionaire Ross Perot for the Reform Party nomination, but praised the Texan for building a party "bigger than himself."

Interviewed on the "Fox Morning News," Lamm said he hoped the two men could meet one-on-one for a debate before party members choose a nominee next month. Perot told PBS' "News Hour" on Tuesday, "If that's a good idea, we'll consider it."

Lamm said what unites the Reform Party is a concern over a corrupt political process and "an albatross of debt of unbelievable proportions." He dismissed the Democratic Party as addicted to big government, while Republicans have "subcontracted their conscience to the radical right."

Perot touted civility. Though he attacked George Bush and Bill Clinton in interviews and advertising, the feisty Texan said, "I will not ever say a critical word about Governor Lamm," and declared his commitment to a higher ethical standard in politics.

"We're not doing any negative campaigning," he said. "You see, one of the problems with politics is if your mother got in your way, you'd run her over with an 18-wheeler. See, war has rules. Mud wrestling has rules. Politics has no ethical rules. Politics desperately needs those."

Both Lamm and Perot will be in Augusta, Maine Saturday to encourage Reform Party members to meet the deadline for mailing in candidate preference surveys. Both men are listed on the survey (there's also space for a write-in name), and any candidate who receives 10 percent support of the 1.3 million members who got the survey will be listed on the official ballot.

Lamm Says He Has Even Chance To Defeat Perot

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