In a three-way general election matchup, Ross Perot has moved to a clear lead over both President Bush and Gov. Bill Clinton in the latest Gallup Poll.
In the telephone poll of 815 registered voters nationwide, conducted June 4 to 8, Mr. Perot was supported by 39 percent, Mr. Bush by 31 percent, and Mr. Clinton by 25 percent. The poll had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points.
In a previous Gallup matchup in late May, Mr. Bush and Mr. Perot were tied at 35 percent each, while Mr. Clinton was supported by 25 percent.
No previous independent or third party candidate has ever placed second, much less first, in nearly six decades of Gallup's nationwide polling for President.Another poll found a double-digit Perot lead, 37 percent to 24 percent each for Clinton and Bush.
On May 28 of the same year, USA Today reported:
Anyone doubting Ross Perot is for real can look at the polls, where he is showing electoral strength impossible to ignore. The evidence is in 25 statewide polls, representing more than 60% of the Electoral College votes:
- Perot leads in nine states having 128 electoral votes.Perot ended with 18.9 percent of the popular vote and zero electoral votes.
- President Bush leads in 15 states (190 votes). But much of that came in early polls, before Perot ran first in a Texas poll April 18. Since then he's won seven state polls to Bush's 10.
- Democrat Bill Clinton has led only at home in Arkansas, worth six electoral votes. It takes 270 to win.
