NOT ALL BACKERS OF PEROT SWITCH; PEROT'S NAME WILL BE ON STATE BALLOT

"This presidential election will be a three-way race Bush, Clinton and the Issues," said Mary Martin. "And we spell issues, Perot."

Martin of Jackson, chairman of the "United We Stand" movement in the 8th District of Missouri, said Saturday that the group will continue to promote Perot's ideas.

"Obviously, some individuals who were former supporters of Ross Perot have decided to support another candidate," said Martin. "This is their right, but in doing so, they speak for themselves and not for members of our organization."

Martin discussed the United We Stand campaign, which was initiated in July, during a meeting Saturday in North County Park, where area coordinators picked up copies of "United We Stand," a book written by Perot.

"The book is our platform," said Martin. "Many Perot supporters are remaining active with Perot's ideas, especially the five-year deficit-reduction package and the elimination of electoral college in favor of the popular vote. Both are outlined in the book which went on sale this week.

"We are not trying to elect Ross Perot," said Martin. "Our goal is to present the economic plan to the congressional candidates and presidential candidates and ask them to commit to it.

"We may endorse a candidate at a later date," added Martin. "But, right now, we're not endorsing anyone."

Perot, whose name is expected to be on the ballot in all 50 states, will be on the Missouri ballot Nov. 3, as an independent candidate for president. This was announced Friday by Secretary of State Roy Blunt. Perot is now on ballots in 36 states.

"The movement acquired more than 130,000 names to put Perot on the ballot," said Martin. "With that many signatures, it would be ludicrous to believe his organization would endorse another candidate."

Meanwhile, Bush supporters announced Friday that four men who had helped organize and coordinate Perot's campaign in Missouri are now backing the Republican candidate.

"We were not speaking for all Perot supporters," said Michael Ponder, a Cape Girardeau attorney, one of the four former Perot organizers. He was also one of 11 Perot electors statewide.

Others who switched their support this week were Hal Gibbs of Jefferson City, Tom Alyward of St. Louis and Craig Schroer of Kansas City. Gibbs and Alyward are also Perot electors and Schroer was a district coordinator.

Although they plan to vote for Bush, the three electors said they would vote for Perot as electors if he received a majority of votes in Missouri.

The four men were invited to meet with Bush while he was in St. Louis Thursday.

"We sat down with the president in a private meeting," said Ponder. "We discussed our concerns which led to our earlier Perot efforts, and determined that of the remaining candidates, he was best suited to accomplish things we wanted as former Perot supporters."

Asked if the group had talked with Clinton, Ponder said they had not been invited to do so.

"He (Clinton) would have to change his whole political philosophy," said Ponder. "He is of the tax-and-spend mentality like Congress. We want to reduce the deficit."

Ponder said he was disappointed when Perot announced in July that had withdrawn his candidacy.

"He (Perot) wasted a lot of human resources," said Ponder. "But he did bring to the front many of the issues that needed to be addressed. "I hope at this point that he will not re-enter the race. It could spoil things."