Yeah, Bush 41 was completely the reason Perot got in the race in the first place, Bush 41 basically threw in the towel and handed the job to Clinton. (Hope to learn why, someday.) And giving the nomination to Dole was the same as handing the second four years to Clinton on a platter.
Congratulations! You have arrived at step #1.
Step #2 is to turn off your television, your radio, and cancel your newspapers and any so-called "news"magazines.
Now, you must read, and I do not refer to your local "news"paper.
But .. since Perot had several meetings with Clinton .. it was pretty certain to me that Clinton wanted Perot to stay in the election thereby causing the split in the repubs.
It seems not very well known, but his health was not very good at the time.
"In January 1992, while at a formal dinner in Japan, Bush became ill, vomiting on the Prime Minister of Japan, then fainting. Earlier in the evening, Bush had told his physician he was feeling unwell [3f]. It proved to be nothing more than "the flu," but coming on the heels of Bush's diagnoses of atrial fibrillation and Graves disease in the preceding 12 months, there concern was expressed over his physical health [More]."
Source:http://www.doctorzebra.com/prez/g41.htm
I knew someone who developed hyperactive thyroid. He went from being a mellow guy to very short-fused. Almost cost him his job before the doc figured out what was wrong with him.
Given GHWB's age at the time, he probably didn't have the energy to campaign hard. I think that was at least part of the problem.