1of28Reform Party presidential candiate Ross Perot pauses for a photograph as he leaves a Dallas television studio Sunday, Oct. 6, 1996. Perot was a guest on ABC's Face the Nation.Jon Freilich / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less2of28President Bush, left, talks with independent candidate Ross Perot as Democratic candidate Bill Clinton stands aside at the end of their presidential debate in Richmond, Va., Oct. 15, 1992. (AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander)Marcy Nighswander / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less3of28In this handout photo provided by Perot Sytems, Michael Dell, left and Ross Perot Sr, chairman emeritus of Perot Systems, shake hands Monday, September 21, 2009, in Dallas. Dell announced the acquisition of Perot Systems for $3.9 Billion.Allison V. SMith / AP Photo/Perot SystemsShow MoreShow Less4of28This 1992 file photo shows presidential hopeful H. Ross Perot at a rally in Austin, Texas. The 82-year-old Texas billionaire and former presidential candidate has a deal with Simon & Schuster for his autobiography, scheduled to come out in January. The publisher announced Tuesday that Perot's book is called "Ross Perot: My Life."AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less5of28Reform Party founder Ross Perot addresses the Reform Party National Convention in Dearborn, Mich., Saturday, July 24, 1999.Paul Sancya / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less6of28Reform Party founder Ross Perot addresses the Reform Party's national convention in Dearborn, Mich., Saturday, July 24, 1999.Paul Sancya / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less7of28Pat Buchanan, left, is welcomed to the United We Stand America National Conference in Dallas, Saturday Aug. 12, 1995, by UWSA founder Ross Perot. Days after followers of Perot ousted the Reform Party chairman who was loyal to a Perot rival, party leaders launched an effort Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2000, to draft the Texas billionaire into the presidential race for a third run. Perot or no Perot, Buchanan had said Monday, Feb. 14, 'we would go right ahead with our campaign for the nomination.'Tim Sharp / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less8of28Dana Carvey as Presidential candidate Ross Perot.NBC PhotoShow MoreShow Less9of28H. Ross Perot speaks to members of the House Public Education Committee on Tuesday, March 15, 2005, in Austin, Texas.Harry Cabluck / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less10of28Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill., left, laughs at a Ross Perot comment after Simon's speech to the United We Stand Conference in Dallas, on Aug. 11, 1995.Ron Heflin / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less11of28Ross Perot, an opponent of the North American Free Trade Agreement, waits in a Washington hotel meeting room Wednesday November 17, 1993, between phone calls and interviews before the House approved the agreement. The measure passed 234-200 late Wednesday evening.J. Scott Applewhite / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less12of28Vice President Al Gore and Ross Perot talk during a break on a television debate about the North American Free Trade Agreement on CNN's "Larry King Live" in this Nov. 9, 1993, photo taken in Washington, D.C. Perot suggests Vice President Al Gore cheated during the 1993 NAFTA debate by wearing an earpiece that fed him advice, according to an unauthorized book on the Texas billionaire and his political life, written by Gerald Posner.George Bennett / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less13of28Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot laughs after saying 'Watch my lips, ' in response to reports asking when he plans to formally enter the Presidential race. Questions came May 5, 1992 in New York City where Perot was speaking before the American Newspapers Publishers Association. He told the association he plans to slack off on public appearances for the next few weeks to gear up for a Presidential run.Richard Drew / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less14of28Two-time presidential candidate H. Ross Perot is sworn in front of a California State Senate committee hearing looking into the price manipulation of the California energy market at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, July 11, 2002. The Senate Select Committee to Investigate Price Manipulation of the Wholesale Energy Market is investigating the role of Texas-based Perot Systems in California's power crisis. The computer company helped launch California's electricity markets.Rich Pedroncelli / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less15of28Ross Perot reads from the New York Times business section as he addresses the Reform Party's national convention in Atlanta Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998.Ric Feld / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less16of28Ross Perot acknowedges the applause as he addresses the Reform Party convention in Atlanta Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998.Ric Feld / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less17of28H. Ross Perot, left, gestures while answering questions during a California State Senate committee hearing looking into the price manipulation of the California energy market, held in at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, July 11, 2002. The Senate Select Committee to Investigate Price Manipulation of the Wholesale Energy Market invited Perot to testify about his company's marketing to energy companies _ including presentations that discussed ``holes'' in the state's energy market that couldbe used to drive up wholesale prices. At right of Perot is attorney Gordon Greenberg. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Rich Pedroncelli / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less18of28Former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot waves to a fan at Shea Stadium Monday, April 3, 2000. Perot was one of thousands on hand for the Mets home opener.Ron Frehm / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less19of28Reform party presidential candidate Ross Perot addresses the Christian Coalition Friday, Sept. 13, 1996 in Washington. At sparsely attended news conferences in more than a dozen cities Thursday, March 9, 2000, supporters of the Reform Party founder were turning up the pressure on him to run for president to help boost his besieged party's credibility, but the Texas billionaire is showing no interest in a third bid for the White House.Ruth Fremson / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less20of28H. Ross Perot testifies on Capitol Hill Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Gulf War Illnesses. The Texas businessman testified at the behest of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who secured $5 million for Gulf War illness research in the defense spending bill. The money is expected to go to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.Stephen J. Boitano / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less21of28H. Ross Perot is shown in this Oct. 30, 1968 photo, as Electronic Data Systems Corp. chairman in Plano, Texas. In 1984 Perot, founder of EDS, sold his company to GM for $2.5 billion. On Monday, Aug. 7, 1995, GM announce it will spin off EDS, making it an independent company.AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less22of28H. Ross Perot holds up a 'Perot in '96' bumper sticker on election night in Dallas, in Nov.1992. Perot, a presidential candidate in 1992, has agreed to have his name placed on the 1996 presidential ballots in Texas, Florida and as many as a dozen more states. Perot insists he will step aside once his new Reform Party picks a standard-bearer.Eric Gay / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less23of28Ross Perot endorses Republican Presidential candidate George W. Bush during an appearance on CNN's 'Larry King Live' show on CNN Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000 in New York. Reform Party founder Ross Perot endorsed George W. Bush for president eight years after his own White House bid helped turn Bush's father out of office.Mark Lennihan / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less24of28Ross Perot poses in his office in Plano, Texas, Tuesday, March 23, 2004. Thursday night in Dallas, Perot is to receive an award from the Business Executives for National Security, a nonprofit group of pro-defense business leaders. He is to be honored for his work to help wounded soldiers and prisoners of war.Donna McWilliam / AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less25of28Texan H. Ross Perot center watches December 30, 1969 as Anchorage volunteers repackage Christmas gifts into 8,000 parcels for prisoners of war in North Vietnam. Perot is rushing to meet a Dec.31 deadline for putting packages in hands of Soviet postal authroities in hopes they can then be sent to POWs.AP PhotoShow MoreShow Less26of28Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot's company, Perot Systems Inc. based in Dallas, announced Thursday, April 9, 1998, a change in health insurance policy for newly hired gay employees. Perot Systems Inc. will no longer allow health benefits for domestic partners. The new policy does not affect gay employees already on the company's payroll. Perot is shown in an undated file photo.AP Photo / George BridgesShow MoreShow Less27of28Ross Perot acknowledges former gov. Richard Lamm as he begins his speech at the reform party convention sunday 8/11 in Long Beach, Ca.Richard Carson / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less28of28Ross Perot speaks during a luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Thursday afternoon. Perot recently took back the reins at Perot Systems Corporation and is planning sweeping changes for the company.APShow MoreShow Less
By JANA KASPERKEVIC
Hearst Washington Bureau
Just hours before the second presidential debate was to take place, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced that Texas billionaire and ’92 and ’96 Reform Party presidential nominee Ross Perot has endorsed him for president of the United States.
“Ross Perot’s accomplishments as an entrepreneur, as a political leader, and as a naval officer make him a living legend,” said Mitt Romney. “He understands the challenges facing the nation and what it will take to meet them. I am proud to have his support.”
Perot took part in the highest-rated town hall debate in presidential campaign history. Then-President George W. Bush’s performance in the Richmond debate helped to cement Democrat Bill Clinton’s lead in the 1992 campaign.
But Perot is lining up strongly behind the Republican nominee this year.
Of why he endorsed Romney for president, Perot said:
“Our country faces a serious choice. The fact of the matter is that the United States is on unsustainable course. At stake is nothing less than our position in the world, our standard of living at home, and our constitutional freedoms. That is why I am endorsing Mitt Romney in his quest for the presidency. We can’t afford four more years in which national debt mushrooms out of control, our government grows, and our military is weakened. Mitt has the background, experience, intelligence, and integrity to turn things around. He has my absolute support.”
