In Texas, both Senate candidates are hotly pursuing the Perot vote.

In contrast to the parties' durable showings, the Perot vote looks downright ephemeral.

That's why the Perot vote will ultimately shrink to one-half the Clinton vote, despite equal advertising.

"No one knows where the Perot vote will go," Mr. Foley said.

In South Carolina, the Perot vote was a fusion of the Reform and Patriot slates.

Maybe they also persuaded the angry taxpayer, a.k.a. "the Perot vote," that Republicans were the good guys.

For those who style themselves independents, those specialists in "sending them a message," their Perot vote will produce the same effect.

Mr. Clinton was able to accomplish that because he picked up the biggest share of the Perot vote, which was 20 percent in 1992 but only 9 percent in 1996.

At 20, people won't see a Perot vote as wasted.

But any attempt to gauge the impact of the Perot vote is clouded by uncertainty over whether he can maintain his support.