This is how Ross Perot elected Bill Clinton TWICE by fewer than 50% of the vote, in 1992 as an Independent, then in 1996 he formed and headed the Reform Party ticket.
Later in the 1990s, Perot's detractors accused him of not allowing the Reform Party to develop into a genuine national political party, but rather using it as a vehicle to promote himself. They cited as evidence the control of party offices by operatives from his presidential campaigns...
In 1988 he founded Perot Systems Corporation, Inc. in Plano, Texas. His son, Ross Perot, Jr., eventually succeeded him as CEO. In September 2009, Perot Systems was acquired by Dell for $3.9 billion.
sadly, history could repeat itself. I do think there are several republican candidates that could possibly run as an independent when they don’t win the nomination — thereby guaranteeing us The Second Coming of The Clenis. trump is certainly one. nutty rand paul is another.