OS ANGELES - Patrick Buchanan, echoed by his supporters, told Reform Party veterans in California yesterday that his presidential campaign would save the party, which was founded by H. Ross Perot.
But state party leaders weren't feeling conciliatory and moved toward splitting from the national party this fall, a move that would deny Buchanan ballot access in the nation's largest state.
The Reform Party in Minnesota has broken ties with the national party, and other state parties are considering it.
''If we're not united, we can't reach out and get those conservative Republicans, we can't get those union Democrats, we can't get those folks who voted for Ross Perot and have walked away from politics,'' Buchanan told about 400 people at the state's Reform Party convention.
Supporters of Perot, a Texas billionaire, said the price of being rescued by Buchanan, accepting his conservative social positions, is too high.
''He's not rescuing us; it may be just the opposite,'' said Bob Ferrario of Los Gatos, Calif., who is attending the convention. ''He just wants to use it as a platform for his social philosophy, but that's not what we're about. We're centrist.''
Buchanan promised to do his best to unite the party if he receives the nomination at the convention Aug. 10-13 in Long Beach. He appealed for an end to bickering to halt damage to the party's future.
''If we win this battle and we've got the delegates, I would ask people even if they disagree: What good is it going to do then to keep arguing and damage our cause?'' Buchanan asked.
Late yesterday, eight of 13 members of the state party's governing board approved a resolution that said the state organization would split from the national party after the convention unless Buchanan agrees:
To ''affirm'' the party's practice of electing a vice presidential candidate at the national convention.
Not to apply ''litmus tests'' to any running mate.
Not to make an attempt to change the national party's platform to reflect his social issues.
Buchanan, who left the GOP in October after being overshadowed by other candidates for the third straight presidential election, would receive $12.6 million in federal funding if he is nominated.
A state-by-state drive to secure delegates has made him the leader among some 10 candidates for the nomination, though he has been unable to break much above 4 percent in national polls.
Buchanan has sent conflicting signals about whether he would change the party from one that is silent on social issues to one that is as staunchly antiabortion and antigay as he is.
Longtime Reform Party member Brian Stransky, of Los Angeles, said rejecting Buchanan sends the wrong message.
