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Jesse Ventura To Run for Senate?
July 09, 2008 9:20 AM
In an interview with NPR's David Welna that ran today former Gov. Jesse "The Body" Ventura, Ind-Minn., sounds like he may run for Senate, challenging incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., whom Ventura defeated for governor in 1998, as well as Democratic nominee and former Saturday Night Live humorist Al Franken.
Ventura, born Jim Janos, tells Welna that the main reason he would run is because of Coleman's support for the war in Iraq. "That's the reason I run," he says. "I run because it angers me...All you Minnesotans take a good hard look at all three of us. And you decide: if you were in a dark alley which one of the three of us would you want with you?
Ventura had a stormy tenure as governor and horrible relations with the Minnesota press corps. Thus, it was the June issue of a local wine magazine where he chose to drop hints about his pending campaign.
"I'm not a politician, I'm a statesman," he told The Midwest Wine Connection. "I do one term, and then I go back to the private sector. If I get back into the fray again this year, it's only because I've been gone five years back to the private sector. That's what I did when I was mayor. That's a statesman. That's not a career politician."
Ventura said of Coleman, "the guy has not had a job in the private sector his entire adult life. He's been collecting government checks since the day he got out of law school and went to work for the attorney general's office. So when Norm Coleman tells people in the private sector he feels their pain, how? He's never been in it. At least Al Franken knows what the private sector is. I would like to send him out and get a real job in the private sector."
Ventura called Franken an opportunist and a carpetbagger. "He hasn't lived here in 30 years, and he's only coming back to Minnesota for the convenience of his own political agenda. Why didn't he run in the states he was living in? Clearly, for being a Harvard graduate, he's not too smart on taxes, is he? Everybody laughs, saying I came from wrestling. But at least I knew when I wrestled in 40 states, I had to pay taxes in those 40 states. You just have to do the paperwork. I find it unbelievable that someone who could go to Harvard didn't know that or let it slip. Blaming his accountant is worse, because now he's turning into a politician. He's not accepting responsibility for his actions."
A recent state poll has Coleman leading with 52 percent of the vote and Franken with 40 percent.
A hypothetical race with Ventura shows Coleman with 41 percent, Franken with 31 percent and Ventura with 23 percent.
Of course, as this priced-to-move 1999 biography of Ventura recalls those poll numbers are far better than Ventura's numbers in his 1998 gubernatorial run. In June 1998, Ventura only had 7% support. In November, he won with 37% of the vote.
- jpt
UPDATE: Ultimately those Ventura observers -- who argued that the former governor's occasionally confusing syntax should be taken into account when reporting his seemingly definitive declaration "that's the reason I run" -- are correct.
Ventura told The Associated Press he had been speaking hypothetically to NPR, that in responding to Welna's question about why he would run, "I gave him the reasons why I would run. But I said ultimately, it will come down to whether I want to change my lifestyle and go to that lifestyle or not." Reports the AP: "Ventura says bluntly that no one knows whether he will run -- not even his wife. He says the decision won't be made until next Tuesday, the filing deadline."
This blog post has been updated to reflect Ventura's carification.
July 9, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (178)
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Perfect.
Posted by: KansasGirl | Jul 9, 2008 4:31:38 PM
Whatever happened to what JFK said?
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country".
Forget the handouts, everybody has to be responsible for themselves and their families. That was the position Ventura took as Governor and the country needs more politicians to take similar positions. I think he's the best man for the position.
Posted by: Gateman, Goodbury & Graves | Jul 9, 2008 4:31:07 PM
Two complete morons running for the same seat?
Posted by: El gato | Jul 9, 2008 4:27:17 PM
Why don't you change the time this report was posted since you had to make a correction?
Posted by: Red Dirt Reporter | Jul 9, 2008 4:26:05 PM
The press drooled all over your state and Ventura when he first became a political novelty. Eventually even they realized what an idiot he was and he basically made your state a laughing stock. That Wellstone funeral was a real embarassment too. I look forward to the entertainment your state provides.
Posted by: Lee | Jul 9, 2008 4:12:38 PM
Minnesotans,
Do yourselves a favor. Get Coleman out of office.
Posted by: sylhet | Jul 9, 2008 4:08:33 PM
Looks like an inevitable clear split in the Democratic Party vote, so that Norm Coleman will win easy re-election.
Makes you wonder about Jesse's true motivations.
Posted by: apetrelli | Jul 9, 2008 4:01:12 PM
""Yeah, Mr. Ventura but, are you offering any Hope or Change?"
Minnesota needs a lot of Change before there can be any Hope. They have become the Kalifornia of the North. Could it be the winters?
At least Ventura isn't as ugly as Frankenfish and does dress better.
Posted by: No Hope No Change | Jul 9, 2008 3:53:45 PM
I've often said that in Minnesota, politics is a spectator sport. This proves it.
Bill Bagwell
Posted by: Bill Bagwell | Jul 9, 2008 3:50:18 PM
This is why I moved from the Peoples Republic of Minnesota! Minnesota politics is truly a sad, sick circus show!
Posted by: J Braun | Jul 9, 2008 3:46:18 PM
Any other former Predator actors want to run?
Posted by: Larry | Jul 9, 2008 3:28:26 PM
As Harry Truman once said: "A statesman is nothing more than a washed-up politician."
I guess if you don't care about your state and its future a washed-up "rassler" or worse, a washed-up comedian is always an option.
Posted by: The Observer | Jul 9, 2008 3:21:30 PM
Ventura is good at campaigning, but horrible at governing. Even now, his only worthwhile "accomplishment" as governor was getting elected. I like an independent thinker as much as the next guy, but he's nothing more than a talker -- he accomplishes nothing.
Kinda like a wrestler. Or pundit.
Or blog poster, I guess.
Posted by: aint.got.time.to.read | Jul 9, 2008 3:21:06 PM
Where is Hubert Humphrey or Wellstone when you need them?
Posted by: Honest Hugo | Jul 9, 2008 3:13:38 PM
Let me see, we got the coice of Coleman, the guy that used to be a demacrate, Franken, the guy who used to be a comedian, and Ventura, the guy who used to be a wrestler. God help Minnesota! I think I`ll move to Wisconsin!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Bob | Jul 9, 2008 3:04:27 PM
American Man said
"Class warfare? You bet cha Charlie and their is absolutely nothing you can do you selfish, self centered arrogant Republicans. In a lot of ways Republicans are traitors. Day is coming and it is coming soon."
But after you steal all the money from those evil greedy Republicans and spend it all foolishly (which is why you are poor to begin with) there will be no more money left.
Then what will you do?
Maybe you should re-check your ideas, Mr. angry/bitter/jealous/envious Man.
Just sayin.....
Posted by: whatda | Jul 9, 2008 3:03:02 PM
Maybe if Franken puts that stupid satellite radar hat he used to wear on SNL news, he can beat Norm and Jessie.
Posted by: Chief | Jul 9, 2008 2:57:16 PM
Good lord . . . Dumb and Dumber are competing this year. The people of that state must be very proud.
Posted by: rplat | Jul 9, 2008 2:52:40 PM
Franken is the best the Dems can come up with? He`s funnier now than he ever was on Saturday Night Live. Colman was about to sail smoothly into office with very little, if any resistance, until now. Jessie is Norms worst nightmare and it`s about to come true. Hoooya!!
Posted by: Fred | Jul 9, 2008 2:49:48 PM
If you vote these jokers in in Minnesota you deserve everything they screw up!
Posted by: GL Torr | Jul 9, 2008 2:46:01 PM
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