Lowell Weicker Won't Attempt Third-Party Run

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 11) -- Former Connecticut Gov. Lowell Weicker will not mount a third-party bid, CNN has learned.

"He has made a personal decision" Wednesday not to run for president, Weicker longtime political advisor Tom D'Amore told CNN. "This was not an easy decision. Weicker is still very committed to the third party movement."

Reports surfaced recently that the one-time senator and governor was seeking a wealthy running mate to help finance a presidential bid, and that his choice would likely be B.T. Golisano, president and CEO of Paychex Inc., a Rochester payroll servicing company.

The duo was expected to seek the nomination of Ross Perot's Reform Party. Perot has insisted that a "fresh face" would be a better choice to head the party's ticket. Some believed Reform Party leaders would prefer Weicker because he could attract voters put off by the outspoken Texan.

Perot was asked in an interview with C-Span about a potential Weicker candidacy: "Well, that's certainly his prerogative, and I haven't heard that, but we want to attract the finest people in the country," he said.

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