PEROT READY TO RE-ENTER RACE, BUT ARE WE READY?

Here we go again.

H. Ross Perot has resurfaced courting the talk shows and national media saying he made a mistake in dropping his independent presidential challenge in July. The billionaire Texan has broadly hinted he may re-enter the race in the final weeks.

Oh really?

Since Perot's surprise admission this week, supporters have apparently jammed his phone banks. The billionaire has indicated he will run if his supporters want him, and has directed his state coordinators to poll the volunteers.

For the most part, Perot supporters are not extremists. And they aren't the only voters not entirely happy with the choice of George Bush or Bill Clinton. Perot feeds on this general dissatisfaction of voters. But Perot is not the answer.

Topping the list is the fact Perot is too unpredictable. He could change national policies or relations with foreign countries on a whim. Even his supporters realize the problem. In the September "Missouri for Perot" newsletter, Missouri State Coordinator Sandy McClure writes this to supporters: "Predicting Ross Perot is like predicting where a hurricane will strike next. No one know what he is planning to do, or when."

Secondly, Perot already quit once. That doesn't speak well for the old adage, "When the going get's tough, the tough get going." Not much has changed in the campaign since Perot abruptly quit in July. Supporters shouldn't forget he abandoned his campaign without notifying any volunteers, which provoked hurt and anger. That's not the action of a team player.

The electorate deserves more than such broad promises as cutting the deficit, getting rid of illegal drugs, or providing affordable health care that his book promotes. He also quit as press examination was heating up. If he re-enters with only a few weeks remaining in the election, Perot may escape some of the intense investigation that both Bush and Clinton have endured. He could be a spoiler without the scrutiny.

At this late date, it's doubtful Perot could win. Then what are his intentions? Perot said he quit because he couldn't win outright, and that would send the outcome to the House of Representatives. What has changed?

One has to wonder if he didn't plan to re-enter the race all along. According to Advertising Age, television spots supporting Perot's return are ready to run. The magazine quote a source close to the Perot campaign as targeting Oct. 15 as the date he'll officially resume his campaign.

There's no doubt Perot remains a real wild card in the November election. The presidential candidates can't underestimate the general dissatisfaction of voters, and the fact Perot's name will likely appear on the ballot in all 50 states.

If one reads a summary of Perot's book, "United We Stand," one would conclude he's closer to Bush on economic policy, school choice, cutting capital gains taxes, reducing government spending, etc.; though he favors abortion. However, many of his signals indicate he'd concentrate on Texas and Florida which would hurt Bush, and he keeps calling on Clinton to adopt his economic policy.

In Missouri, Perot's candidacy would more likely help Bush and hurt Clinton. All in all, no one knows his intentions, and Perot seems to like it that way.