Mr Ross Perot, founder of the Reform Party, has indicated that he is unlikely to be a candidate in this year's US presidential election. This would leave the way open for Mr Pat Buchanan, who left the Republican Party last year to campaign to win the Reform nomination.
If Mr Buchanan is nominated at the Reform Party convention in August he will qualify for over $12 million in federal funding for his presidential campaign. Mr Buchanan ran for the Republican nomination in the last two elections, and could damage Gov George Bush, who will be nominated at the Republican convention early in August.
The Reform Party has been in turmoil over the past 12 months since Mr Jesse Ventura was elected governor of Minnesota on the party ticket. This led to deep divisions within the party as Mr Ventura's supporters tried to take over the leadership positions and oust Mr Perot's supporters.
The situation was further complicated by Mr Buchanan's campaign to secure the party nomination after he left the Republican Party, accusing it of unduly favouring Mr Bush.
Through all the Reform Party upheaval, Mr Perot made no public statements, although it was clear that he did not approve of Mr Ventura's unorthodox methods and his background in professional wrestling. Mr Ventura has since left the party.
Observers have speculated on Mr Perot's reaction to the Buchanan campaign to take control of the party he founded, pointing out that the strong anti-abortion stance of the former speechwriter for President Nixon has never been party policy.
Now Mr Russell Verney, a former chairman of the party and described as a "spokesman" for Mr Perot, has told the New York Times that Mr Perot has no plans to put himself forward as a contender for the Reform nomination. But Mr Verney also said this did not mean he was supporting Mr Buchanan's bid. The latter, however, now has control of enough delegates to be confident of the party nomination.