Supporters of the party complain the Democrats and Republicans are too similar to get any true reforms done, creating the need for a third party.

"Citizens should be attracted to [the Reform Party] especially in times like these where the two governing political parties are basically carbon copies of each other," writes National Reform Party Vice Chair Gerry Moan in an e-mail message.

In 1996, Perot ran under the banner of the Reform Party against President Clinton and Republican challenger Bob Dole, drawing less than nine percent of the vote. But the showing was good enough to secure federal matching funds for the Reform Party candidate in the 2000 election.

Wrestle Mania

In 1998, former wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura captured the Reform Party spotlight by winning the Minnesota governorship, the first high profile election victory for the party.

Hawkins, who is also a Crimson editor, says Ventura's election got him interested in the Reform Party. Hawkins spent last summer working in Ventura's Minnesota state capital offices.

"The two parties have proved that they make pretenses at real government reform and don't do much when elected," Hawkins says. "I don't see how anyone can trust them to do any true reforms. "

Davis agrees with Hawkins, saying the two existing parties weren't addressing important issues.