Some petition gatherers have already admitted they did not witness the signatures, as the law requires.

So on Monday the Governor simply rewrote the recall law, giving petition gatherers more time than the legislators, perhaps thinking of their own seats, had wanted to give.

It hired professional petition gatherers to try to qualify 12 candidates for the ballot in Missouri.

In most cases, they are unpaid, but some petition gatherers for Ronald S. Lauder are being paid.

Incumbents and candidates supported by their party organizations often get help from the political parties, who can provide experienced petition gatherers, some of whom are paid.

A big part of the pitch by petition gatherers is that a signature is not a commitment to vote for Mr. Perot in November.

While Mr. Bush had the state party's help, he was actually thrown off the ballot in a district in the South Bronx because petition gatherers forged signatures.

As a result, candidates who want to appear across the state must set up a network of petition gatherers.

Two weeks ago, Mr. Gingrich sent out a letter urging supporters of the California petition effort to "rush back" a cash contribution to help pay the professional petition gatherers.

"So we'll just have to hire the lawyers and the petition gatherers and get on with it," Mr. Gorton said.