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About the Film

Flirting with Power is a surprising look at the humor and heartbreak independent and third party candidates face as they challenge the political status quo in the United States. Amid death threats, partisan politics, unfavorable media coverage, and with absolutely no political experience, a group of friends enters the world of presidential politics to work on Ross Perot's 1992 campaign team. Perot told the American people on Larry King Live that the only scenario in which he would run for president would be if they registered him on the ballot in all 50 states. "If you're not willing to organize and do that, then this is all just talk," he added.

Russ Monroe did not see his boss on TV that night, but when he went to work the next day he soon discovered that no one in the building could get an outside phone line. Perot asked Russ to set aside his accounting duties and set-up a phone bank to handle the calls. Tens of thousands of volunteers from around the country called the Dallas businessman's company to offer their support in organizing a grassroots petition drive. Three months later in May of 1992, Ross Perot was leading both the incumbent president and the Democratic nominee in the polls. Americans made it clear that the central issues of Perot's candidacy, the debt and deficient and campaign finance reform, were going to be on the national agenda that election year. Up until that point, these issues were virtually ignored by the major two parties.

Flirting with Power

With Perot's rising political star, the campaign team enjoyed the perks of popularity, but soon realized that there can be a dangerous downside to the national spotlight. Despite the horserace media coverage, ballot access barriers and other setbacks, including Perot's surprising withdrawal from the race in July, the push to get his name on the remaining state ballots continued. In October, Perot announced his return to the race and made it clear to the Commission on Presidential Debates that he wanted to participate. Perot's opening line at the first presidential debate, "Well, they've got a point, I don't have any experience running up a $4 trillion dollar debt," reminded voters why they had initially supported his maverick candidacy. Prior to the debates, Perot earned only 5% of voter support in the polls. His performance at the three debate along with network broadcasts of his highly rated infomericals helped him win 19 percent of the popular vote on election day. It was the best showing of a third party candidate for president since Theodore Roosevelt's run in 1912 with the progressive Bull Moose Party.

Featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Perot on the campaign trail, the film offers a first hand look at the power of citizens to reclaim the political process and alter the national dialogue. The immense barriers to pariticipation explain why so many Americans shun politics, distrust the media, and suffer under a two-party system committed to self-protection and the elimination of third party voices.

Through the evolution of the Reform Party and the 1996 election, Flirting with Power examines the humor and heartbreak of Perot's legacy, the truth about American politics, and the realities of a seriously compromised democracy that only renewed citizen activism can restore. This documentary features never before seen footage from director Jo Streit who was given unprecedented access to the candidate and his campaign team beginning in April 1992.

"This film reminds me of why I got involved with politics in the first place…and now I believe I can make a difference."

—Michael Farris
National Executive Committee and Founding Member, Reform Party

Flashback to the humor, frustration with politics-as-usual, and the ultimate triumph of American voters during the 1992 presidential election. Although their independent candidate did not win the election, their support altered the national dialogue and influenced the platform of the Democratic winner Bill Clinton. Featuring the song "Jericho Blues" and the soulful singing of Brenda Boykin