DALLAS, Aug. 15 -- Democratic sources have revealed Reform Party founder Ross Perot offered the No. 2 spot on the ticket to Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, after the two met last month but she turned him down, a news report said Thursday. Kaptur, a North American Free Trade Agreement opponent, informed Perot about her decision on Tuesday, saying she preferred to stay on her job in the House, The Dallas Morning News reported. Asked if Perot had talked about tapping Kaptur for the vice presidential spot, Reform Party national coordinator Russell Verney told United Press International on Thursday he would not comment on private conversations between Perot and others. Verney repeated an earlier statement that it would be inappropriate for a candidate to talk about a vice presidential pick prior to winning the nomination. 'It would be presumptuous to announce a running mate' without securing the nomination, Verney said. Ballot counting in the Reform Party began nearly a week ago and a candidate will be announced during the weekend at Valley Forge, Pa., party officials said. Former Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm, who is competing with Perot for the party nomination, earlier chose former Rep. Ed Zschau, a Republican businessman in California. Kaptur, in a statement released by her office, said she was flattered to be considered for vice presidential office. 'I am surprised and honored to be the subject of so much speculation,' the statement said. 'As a daughter of a blue-collar family in Toledo, I have a job I love, and I feel deeply privileged to serve our people.
It is my hope to continue serving...as long as the voters give me the honor to represent them.' Kaptur and Perot have been soulmates in their opposition to NAFTA, and she received a warm reception at a convention in August 1995 hosted by Perot. The Texas tycoon has repeatedly attacked NAFTA -- which opens the borders to commerce from Canada to Mexico -- as a U.S. jobs exporter that will turn on the sluice gates to polluters. Kaptur also won high marks from members of the audience at the 1995 convention when she talked about protecting American workers' jobs.
