Ross Perots life
What was Ross Perot’s job before running for president?
Businessman/Founder of EDS
Who were Perot’s two main opponents in 1992?
Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush)
What does “third party” mean in U.S. politics?
A party other than Democrat or Republican
What type of TV segment did Perot use to share his ideas?
Infomercials or TV ads with charts
What voting system makes it hard for third parties to win?
Winner-take-all
What state was Ross Perot from?
Texas
How much of the popular vote did Perot win in 1992?
About 19%
Name another third-party or independent candidate from U.S. history.
Ralph Nader, Jill Stein
What visual tool did Perot use to explain issues?
Charts and graphs
What major event did Perot participate in during the 1992 campaign that helped his popularity?
Presidential debates
What branch of the military did Perot serve in?
U.S. Navy
How many electoral votes did Perot get in 1992?
0
What is one challenge third parties face in elections?
Debate access, ballot access, media attention
What platform might a modern Perot use to reach voters?
Social media – TikTok, YouTube, etc.
Why didn’t Perot win any states?
Votes were spread thin – not enough to win any one state
What year did Perot first run for president?
1992
What big economic issue did Perot focus on?
The national debt
What’s the “spoiler effect”
When a third-party candidate takes votes away from a major candidate
Why did people say Perot “talked straight”
He used simple, honest language)
What rule change kept him out of the 1996 debates?
Stricter polling requirements
What was the name of the party Perot founded in 1995?
The Reform Party
What trade agreement did Perot strongly oppose?
NAFTA
What’s the last time a third-party candidate won any electoral votes?
George Wallace in 1968
What’s one way Perot changed how candidates campaign?
Direct media strategy without a party
Name one way to reform elections to help third parties.
Ranked choice voting, proportional representation