Perot’s Progress

As Ross Perot speaks to rallies today in Sacramento and Irvine to promote his prospective presidential candidacy, the efforts to qualify him for the ballot in all 50 states are proceeding.

States in which he has qualified to date:

Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

In the process of certifying signatures:

Alabama, California, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio and Oregon.

QUALIFYING IN CALIFORNIA

For Perot to qualify in California, petitions containing the signatures of 134,781 registered voters must be submitted by Aug. 7. Perot supporters this week began turning in petitions signed by an estimated 500,000 people.

THE DEADLINE NEARS

In the majority of states, the signatures of fewer than 10,000 registered voters are required for ballot placement. Here are the signature and deadline requirements for states where Perot has yet to qualify and in which 10,000 or more signatures are needed:

STATE SIGNATURES DEADLINE Arizona 10,555 Sept. 18 Connecticut 14,620 Aug. 12 Georgia 29,500 July 14 Illinois 25,000 Aug. 3 Indiana 29,909 July 15 Maryland 63,186 Aug. 3 Massachusetts 10,000 July 28 Michigan 26,000 July 16 Missouri 20,863 Aug. 3 New Mexico 12,334 Sept. 8 New York 15,000 Aug. 18 Oklahoma 35,132 July 15 Oregon 36,000 Aug. 25 Pennsylvania 37,216 Aug. 3 South Carolina 10,000 July 3 Virginia 13,920 Aug. 21

POLLS SHOW PEROT IN LEAD

A survey of the most recent polls from 38 states by the Hotline political newsletter found Perot and President Bush in the race for the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. Presumptive Democratic nominee Bill Clinton trails far behind.

* Perot leads in 17 states with 243 electoral votes, including California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas.

* Bush leads in 16 states with 162 electoral votes, including New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

* Clinton leads in two states--Arkansas and Maryland--with 16 electoral votes.

Bush and Perot were tied in three states--Delaware, Kansas and Ohio. No results were available for the other 12 states and the District of Columbia.