He secretly coordinated petition efforts in exile, once leading a group of 60 villagers to Beijing to protest the crackdown.

The petition effort was successful and the question was put to the voters.

A broader petition effort is planned for October.

The signatures of 218 House members are required for such a petition effort to succeed.

"We think it is positive," said Oswaldo Payá, who led the petition effort.

After he stopped the petition effort, though, a split within the Reform Party made it uncertain that he would get the nomination.

"So we just don't know how valid this petition effort is."

Three other Republican candidates also said they were considering petition efforts.

Under the rules, candidates must mount separate petition efforts in each district, and can appear in some and not others.

Last year, Mr. Gingrich was humiliated by the success of a similar petition effort.