Ross Perot generated some real excitement vs. the very dull Republicans, Bush and Dole. By contrast, Kasich and Flake are the dull ones - and Trump is anything but dull.
Plus, from a pro-jobs, pro-business, America First standpoint, Perot positioned himself to the right of the GOP milquetoasts - that’s how he siphoned votes off them and allowed Clinton to win. Bush and Dole were 2nd world war heroes, but neither of them had any clue how to translate that love of country into solutions to modern day problems - it was easy for Perot to get to the right of their globalist uniparty policy positions.
How is Kascich or Flake going to get to the right of Donald Trump? They are most likely going to be remembered for the times they sided with the Democrats against Trump.
No, I don’t think Trump is vulnerable to a third party challenge - he’s staked out a very, very strong claim on the America First voting block. The Democrats’ only chance is to try and beat him using the same playbook they tried in 2016 - lie, cheat, steal - create class divisions - rig the courts to allow felons, aliens and dead people to vote. Then when none of that works - make up something to impeach him for.
Looking back, too bad Ross Perot didn’t win. (Only partially joking, here).