Monday, October 28, 2002

Go Jesse.


Gov. Jesse Ventura said today he fears the results of the U.S. Senate election on Nov. 5 will be challenged in court and questioned the fairness of how absentee ballots already cast for the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone will be treated. Ventura said that is one reason he is reserving the right to make an interim appointment so that Minnesota will have two votes in a post-election U.S. Senate session and during any challenges to Minnesota’s chaotic Senate election.

"I fully somewhat expect there will be litigation," Ventura said in an interview after he met with staffers at the Department of Natural Resources this morning. "I can’t see a way around this. And I think it’s going to come in the form of how the election is held."

He added, "It’s very difficult to say that it’s a fair election when they’ve already said that anyone that voted absentee with the name 'Paul Wellstone' won’t be counted, and anyone who voted absentee with the name 'Norm Coleman' will be counted.

"That to me right there creates an unfair election."