Solution:

1) Display the ruler in 'Slide Master' view.

a) Move to 'Slide Master' view:

1] Select the 'View' menu and select 'Master'. (The Master submenu appears.)
2] Select 'Slide Master'. (The Slide Master slide appears.)

b) Select the 'View' menu and select 'Ruler'. (The ruler appears at the top of the screen.)
Ruler

2) Click on the bullet text, in the placeholder. (The placeholder is selected, the cursor blinks in front of the bullet text, and the ruler displays moveable tabs.)
3) Select the ruler tab that lines up with the beginning of the text (i.e., where the cursor is positioned).
Select the ruler tab
4) Press and hold down the left mouse button. (A dotted line runs down the screen from the ruler tab.)
Dotted line
5) Do one of the following:

a) Drag the tab to the left. (The dotted line moves, and the space between the bullet and the bullet text decreases.)
b) Drag the tab to the right. (The dotted line moves, and the space between the bullet and the bullet text increases.)

6) Release the mouse button when the bullet and bullet text are the desired distance apart.
7) Repeat steps 3) through 6) for each distance to be changed within the selected placeholder.
8) Click outside the placeholder to deselect it.
9) Repeat steps 3) through 8) for each placeholder containing distances to change.