by Katie Fretland
Jesse Ventura, the former Minnesota governor and ex-professional wrestler, announced last night he will not run for U.S. Senate.
Ventura, an independent, told a national audience on CNN's "Larry King Live" that part of his decision related to shielding his family from the glare of the media.
"Nothing is off-limits today in the world of politics," he said. "These are some of the dilemmas that I go through: Do I want to put my family on the firing line again?"
Ventura joked that if God talks to him before the 5 p.m. deadline today, then he might change his mind. If not, he leaves the race to Democrat Al Franken, the talk show host and comedian, and the incumbent, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. Ventura does not plan to endorse either candidate.
"I was close to [running for Senate]," he said. "One part of me wanted to very badly. But when I spoke to my daughter and ... she feared what would happen to her that happened to her brother, that put me over the top... I thought, I will not put my family under that type of position again."
Ventura served one term as governor of Minnesota beginning in 1998, following a stint as mayor of Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis.
Our friends at Top of the Ticket have more on Jesse Ventura's decision not to run.
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Comments
Amazing how the Swamp isn't now saying this is good news for Coleman because they were SO SURE it was bad news for Coleman when Jesse thought about throwing his particular brand of crazy into the ring.
On July 9th James Oliphant wrote: "Coleman can't be happy about this. Polls show him with a comfortable lead over Franken, the former comedy writer whose campaign has been plagued by the fact that he is a former comedy writer."
You guys want to explain yourselves? Or are you going to try to now say Jesse staying out helps no one?
Posted by: Jeff | July 15, 2008 3:07 PM