Often a misunderstood idea that Perot cost Bush the election. He didn't. Bush lost the election because "It's the economy, stupid." And Clinton's campaign did an excellent job of destroying Bush. Exit polls showed Perot took votes from Bush and Clinton nearly evenly. https://fivethirtyeight.com/videos/the-ross-perot-myth/ Edit - And Clinton was rife with controversy and bullshit. He wasn't well-liked. Yet, he still beat Bush. Because Bush fucked himself over so badly with his pretty glaring lies.