Perot Endorses Bush

"Here's a man who I have never heard anybody criticize once for improper conduct as governor, for the improper taking of funds, for payoffs, for improprieties in the governor's mansion,'' Perot said on "Larry King Live."

"He has done an outstanding job as governor and was re-elected, and rarely is the same governor re-elected in Texas,'' Perot said. "I think he is clearly the better of the two men.''

Perot highlighted integrity and said Bush ''has demonstrated the ability to be a person who knows how to administer and govern.''

He said he decided to back one of the two mainstream party candidates because "in the real world'' either Bush or Al Gore would win, not Reform Party nominee Pat Buchanan.