Fmr. Governor Jesse Ventura Says He's Split Between Sanders & Trump
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura says he's split between backing Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders and Republican candidate Donald Trump on the other end of the political spectrum.
It may seem like an odd choice between candidates, but Ventura told The Associated Press on Monday that he sees echoes of his own underdog win for governor in 1998 in their campaigns. Ventura earned a spot in Minnesota's political history books by winning the state's highest office as a member of the Reform Party, a third-party organization later renamed the Independence Party of Minnesota.
But for the political outsider, who is also a former professional wrestler, it all comes down to the influence of money in politics. Ventura said he disagrees with some of Trump's platform, namely on foreign policy and immigration, but that he appreciates the New York businessman's self-funded campaign, as well as Sanders' stance on accepting contributions.
"People give them no PAC money, no special interest money. To me, that's the most important thing," he said by phone.
Ventura said he won't make an official endorsement because he doesn't belong to either party. Plus, he said he's still mulling his own presidential run as a third-party Libertarian candidate. The Libertarian National Convention is in May, and his decision may hinge on which major party candidates lock up the nomination.
"If it's Hillary Clinton and Marco Rubio, the chances are better," he said. "I don't want the revolution to die if Bernie gets beat."
His musings on each party's contests for the nomination come just a day ahead of Minnesota's caucus voting on Super Tuesday.
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