MyDD :: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run

MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run

by Josh Orton, Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:14:16 PM EST

On Larry King Live a few moments ago, former Navy SEAL, professional wrestler, and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura announced that he would NOT enter the already-competitive race between incumbent Norm Coleman and Al Franken.

Ventura's explanation consisted mostly of personal factors - he didn't want to change his lifestyle, and didn't want his children "attacked" like he claims they were when he was governor.

And after plenty of tease and run-up before his announcement, Ventura also mentioned a yet-published poll conducted by the Minneapolis ABC affiliate that he claimed puts him in 2nd place, above Franken. Anyone seen the poll?

Update [2008-7-14 21:32:8 by Josh Orton]: As they note over at MN Campaign Report, Rasmussen now has Franken up - continuing the pattern of erratic numbers in the race.

Tags: MN-Sen, Jesse Ventura (all tags)

Permalink :: 28 Comments :: Post a Comment

whats wrong with this guy? (none / 0)

because if Franken was gonna lose like he may, I'd rather have Senator Ventura than Coleman. Why is he doing this? I'd bet the media machine and the party bosses forced him out of the race.

by Lakrosse on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:16:17 PM EST

Partially (none / 0)

He had family problems. He got crucified by the media when he was governor, in my mind wrongfully. His daughter said that she was worried that she'd be made into a circus, and he realized he couldn't put his family through it again.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:19:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: whats wrong with this guy? (none / 0)

He would have lost w/ Ventura in the race. Now he's going to win.

by Democrat in Chicago on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 10:27:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: whats wrong with this guy? (none / 0)

Franken?

I wish non-MN Democrats could take off the rose colored glasses.

by MNPundit on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 12:51:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Haven't seen it (none / 0)

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed. I'm not sure Franken can win without Ventura in there pounding on Coleman.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:17:28 PM EST

Re: Haven't seen it (none / 0)

Actually, it's good for us... Ventura was stealing votes from Franken....

It profits a PUMA nothing to give their soul for the whole world... but for McCain? --Sir Thomas More (if he were here now)

by LordMike on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 10:11:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Eh (none / 0)

He'd have been stealing more from Coleman by the end.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 12:25:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

it's at kstp.com (none / 0)

a PDF.

Franken is behind 52-39 in a two-way, so it is a bad poll for him,

In the three way it is 53-27-26, with Ventura third, but the text desribing it as tied for 2nd.

John McCain is a Bush ally on Social Security.

by John DE on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:20:46 PM EST

why is Coleman so popular? (none / 0)

that he's winning re-election in a landslide? Is there something special he did for Minnesota or something?

by Lakrosse on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:26:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why is Coleman so popular? (none / 0)

He likes to claim he had something to do with getting the Xcel Energy Center built, and therefore had a hand in bringing hockey back to Minnesota, when he was the Mayor of St. Paul.

It's worked with much of the hockey crowd in Minnesota, which is a lot of people.

by chewie5656 on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:43:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why is Coleman so popular? (none / 0)

Franken made some really nasty rape jokes in playboy 15 years ago, and it turned up... so, that is killing him...

It profits a PUMA nothing to give their soul for the whole world... but for McCain? --Sir Thomas More (if he were here now)

by LordMike on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 10:12:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

and the Democratic Party machine (none / 0)

couldn't or can't find a better candidate? honestly, walter mondale won Minnesota. How can't they find a decent candidate?

by Lakrosse on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 11:33:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: and the Democratic Party machine (none / 0)

Here's the deal. Minnesota DFLers are good, solid technocratic liberals most of the time. They can usually govern pretty well and have moderate-to-progressive ideas on a lot of things and can often bring those ideas out.

And they are boring as shit.

Coleman is winning because he is a non-offensive senator. He quietly votes with Bush on a lot of things but breaks with him sometimes (like on ANWR) and he is NEVER out in front with crazy policies like what Jeff Sessions is doing with the HIV bill. Because of this it's hard to think up a reason off hand to vote AGAINST him, which combined with incumbency is why Al Franken is having difficulties.

I don't know how far the attitude is widespread but I certainly don't like Al Franken. In fact, a new legit DFL candidate just filed to enter the primary today.

by MNPundit on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 12:56:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Wrong. (none / 0)

There were no rape jokes in the playboy article. Thanks for spreading misinformation.

John McCain, maverick

by lojasmo on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 10:26:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Rasmussen has Franken ahead (none / 0)

within the MOE. Franken's going to be fine.

John McCain, maverick

by lojasmo on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:46:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: it's at kstp.com (none / 0)

So much for the theory that Ventura takes votes away from Coleman. The left loves to shoot ourselves in the foot with 3rd party candidates, but I guess we won't have the opportunity in MN.

I voted for Hillary!

by deepee on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 10:13:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: it's at kstp.com (none / 0)

Could that be 43-27-26? Or is KSTP the Max Bialystock of pollsters?

by howie14 on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 12:41:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

New Rasmussen poll has Franken leading (none / 0)

This is as good a night as Franken has had in a while.

by LeftistAddiction on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:27:37 PM EST

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

Being from Minnesota, when it comes down to it, it's all about him.

by chewie5656 on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 09:39:58 PM EST

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

Good news for democrats. Let's get Franken elected! We can!!

by Democrat in Chicago on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 10:24:47 PM EST

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

Lets not forget that Wellstone was behind Coleman until later in the fall before the crash.

by Judeling on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 10:52:59 PM EST

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

Ventura ran the MN economy into the ground and acted like a circus unto himself. He was/is notoriously thin skinned. SO meh to him for not running.

by notedgeways on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 11:15:56 PM EST

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

This is excellent news. Franken may not win but this gives him a chance. Not only would Ventura naturally swipe votes from Franken, but Ventura's presence would dominate the campaign, in debates and offbeat commercials like '98, and everything else. Franken's one edge would be nullified.

This isn't as favorable a cycle as a second term midterm. I think we take it for granted a bit after '06, disposing of GOP incumbents. Always uphill unless the opponent is stuck in sup-40% approval rating.

by Gary Kilbride on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 11:16:54 PM EST

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

If Franken tanks in the polls, I'd like to see him do an ad where his wife is obviously talking in front of a green screen, 4 times as large as Franken.

by magster on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 12:40:23 AM EST

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

I'm still not sure what is so terrible about the add. As my GF put it "she's out there living her life rather than being schakled to her husband's campaign."

by MNPundit on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 01:06:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

The only thing "wrong" about that whole situation is that they're still pretending they're married. I haven't lived in MN for awhile, but it was pretty much an open secret that the Colemans' marriage was effectively over before he ran for Senate. I just think it's sad, really.

by HSTruman on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 09:02:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

I've never really understood the irrational hatred of Al Franken, and I say that as a native Minnesotan. Are people pissed that he made it big in New York? Maybe the Brooklyn-born Coleman has an opinion on that. I'm sorry, maybe the Brooklyn-born DFL St. Paul mayor before he switched to the GOP would like to comment on how fake and obnoxious Al Franken is. Those New Yorkers aren't us quiet humble Minnesotans like Norm Coleman.

Seriously, I used to think that Minnesota had a strong Progressive vein along the lines of La Follette and even the more radical Debs. But the Twin Cities suburbs produce some real pieces of work like Michele Bachmann, and without 'Da Range' to balance them out the whole rural population would be GOP-fetus saving religious division. I mean hell the damn bridges are falling down and no one can seem to say a damn thing bad about T. Pawlenty, other than "It would be a good thing for him if he became McCain's running mate, ya sure ya betcha."

by wengler on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 07:13:44 AM EST

Re: MN-Sen: Ventura Won't Run (none / 0)

The Right-Wing across the country HATES Franken with a passion.

This is a guy who wrote a book about their deity, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat, Idiot" and turned it into a best seller. This is a guy who physically tackled and took down an obnoxious right-wing freeper heckler during Howard Dean's speech in NH in 2004.

This is a guy who is revered and respected by US ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and many other places because he organizes USO tours and shows up and cares about them.

The Right are correct to be afraid of him. He is a tough ex-wrestler with a bulldog's courage, not their Lib patsy. They miss no chance to demean, smear, and attack him.

He challenged Bill O'Reilly to a parking lot fistfight, and Billo ducked him. And then there was that epic appearance on a Book Tour show,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpOSgT-os Hk where he exposed O'Reily for the lying bully he is.

No, the Right will do whatever it takes to prevent Franken from winning this Election.

The Playboy smears last month are only more of the same. They dug up bogus tax charges against him too before that, they are accusing and smearing him at every opportunity.

Today's poll is sweet, and it looks like Franken's going to close strong and send Coleman packing.

by dembluestates on Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 10:48:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.