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What made me a success in business would make me a failure as a politician.

-- Ross Perot to the Washington Post, 1969

Some failure. Without even formally declaring his candidacy, Perot has unleashed a hurricane of discontent with politics -- and politicians -- as usual, sweeping up millions of citizens in an emotional crusade that could conceivably propel him all the way to the White House. Despite what may be a temporary leveling off in his popularity, the Texan still outpaces George Bush in the polls and leaves Democrat Bill Clinton in the dust. No other independent candidate in modern...

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