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Former wrestler takes stunning win in Minnesota
'The American dream still lives'(AllPolitics, November 3) -- In one of the more improbable upsets in American political history, Reform Party candidate Jesse "The Body" Ventura, once a pro wrestler known for his spoiler tactics in the ring, shocked his two rivals -- Democrat Hubert Humphrey III and Republican Norm Coleman -- to win Minnesota's governorship Tuesday. "We've shocked the world," an exuberant Ventura told his cheering supporters. "Hopefully the Republicans and Democrats will take notice now. They will stop their partisan party politics and start doing what's right for the people." The crowd swelled with enthusiastic shouts of "Jesse! Jesse! Jesse!" Many waved yellow-and-black "Ventura" signs. One sign simply read: "Ventura kicks ass!!!"
Ventura, a hulking figure with a square jaw, shaved head and deep baritone voice, told the crowd he didn't make a lot of campaign promises because, "I don't want to make promises I can't keep." "But I'm going to make you one simple promise tonight," he said. "I promise you I will do the best job I can." Saying Tuesday's vote was a "dream come true," Ventura compared his win to that of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, a group of blue-collared, tough-nosed hacks who captured the gold medal in Lake Placid, including an improbable win over the much-heralded Soviet Union. "The American dream still lives," Ventura said. At the White House, Press Secretary Joe Lockhart told reporters: "Never thought that 'body slam' would become a literal phrase in politics." Populist beliefs appealed to voters
Outside the Beltway, Minnesotans were proud of their new governor. Many voters were drawn to Ventura's off-the-cuff wit and his push for quality education across the state, including a return to more neighborhood schools. In one of his final television ads, a Ventura action figure doll fought off Evil Special Interest Man. "I like Jesse because he wasn't mixed into that political scene," said Ken Purmort, a 52-year-old graphic artist who voted for Ventura. The race was open because Republican Gov. Arne Carlson was not seeking re-election. Three-way raceHumphrey, the state's attorney general and son of the late vice president, was the early favorite because of his famous name and because he oversaw Minnesota's $6.1 billion settlement of a lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Coleman, the St. Paul mayor, was a former Democrat and Humphrey protege who switched to the GOP two years ago. He was re-elected last year. His base in normally Democratic St. Paul, combined with his electoral experience and solid support within his adopted party, made him a very serious contender in the fall. Besides being a professional wrestler, Ventura has been a Navy SEAL, a talk-show host, an actor in movies such as "Running Man" and mayor of a Minneapolis suburb. He and his family spent the final days of the campaign on an RV tour from St. Paul to southern Minnesota and the Iron Range. Ventura was considered an entertaining sideshow to the main event until he passed 20 percent in the polls. He told voters they could choose between two career politicians or elect a person from the private sector. Both Coleman and Humphrey have proposed using some budget surplus for tax breaks. Ventura wanted to return all the surplus. Coleman favored giving middle-class families tax breaks if they send their kids to private schools. Ventura wanted to expand that for all families regardless of income. Humphrey was opposed to the idea altogether. Humphrey campaigned against using tax dollars to fund a new baseball stadium, while Coleman was for user fees. Ventura says bonds should be used. Humphrey and Ventura supported abortion rights. Coleman said abortions should be available only in case of rape, incest or if the mother's life was in danger. On gun control, Ventura and Coleman stood together, both favoring a measure to make it easier to get permits to carry concealed weapons. Humphrey opposed the measure. Haircuts and carsHumphrey tried to make sharp contrasts with his opponents, saying he cared most about tax cuts for working families, decent wages, injured workers and education. He told voters that what the government would do in the next four years would dramatically affect their lives. Humphrey described Ventura as a guy who drives a Porsche made with Brazilian steel and Coleman as a guy who pays $67 for a fancy haircut, while Humphrey said he himself drove a 1989 American-made Oldsmobile station wagon and paid $10 at a barber shop for his haircut. Minnesota Republicans renamed themselves Independent Republicans after Watergate, while Minnesota Democrats call themselves the Democrat Farmer Labor party. The DFL has controlled both houses of the Legislature since the Republicans held the House in 1986, and the Republicans have been hungry for a change. The Associated Press contributed to this report.OVERVIEW:
• Offices where party control switched • Dems poured big bucks into final get-out-the-vote drive • Turnout approaches 38 percent • Minorities see ups, downs in results • Clinton happy with midterm election results • How voters see Lewinsky scandal SENATE RACES:
• Schumer topples D'Amato in New York Senate race • Edwards unseats Faircloth in tight North Carolina race • Moseley-Braun loses to Republican Fitzgerald • Democratic Boxer wins fight for Senate seat • Washington's Murray heads back to the Senate • Incumbent Hollings wins close race in South Carolina • Bunning ekes out win against Baesler • Reid defends Democratic Senate seat in Nevada • Coverdell outdistances Democratic Senate opponent • Campbell wins Colorado • Lincoln defeats Boozman, Dems retain Arkansas Senate seat • Gov. Voinovich wins Senate race in Ohio, defeats Democrat Boyle • Democrat Bayh easily defeats Helmke in Indiana • Analysis: Moderation sweeps the Senate HOUSE RACES:
• Democrat Inslee bests incumbent White for Washington House seat • Affair doesn't dampen support for Idaho's Chenoweth • Democrats hold on to Colorado's 2nd district • Sanchez trumps Dornan again in California House race • Udall wins Redmond's New Mexico House seat • Tradeoff in the bluegrass: Parties switch Kentucky House seats • Familiar faces still around the House • Baldwin breaks barrier, becomes first openly lesbian House member • Second time the charm for Hoeffel in Pennsylvania House race • Berkley takes Las Vegas House seat for Democrats • Open Mississippi House seat goes to Democrat Shows • House leader Bonior fends off GOP challenge in Michigan • Snowbarger's Kansas district picked up by Democrat Moore • Green pulls Republican upset in Wisconsin • Simpson keeps Idaho's 2nd district in GOP hands • Toomey takes Pennsylvania's 15th District for GOP • Democrats to make historic gains in House • Republican Sherwood wins open seat in Pennsylvania's 10th House district • Hawaii rehires Abercrombie in House race • Swing Connecticut district chooses Democrat Maloney again • Republican Ryan beats Spottswood in Wisconsin's 1st district • Illinois Rep. Evans bests Baker in closely watched contest • Republican Baker fends off tough challenge in Louisiana House race • Iowa's Boswell fends off Republican n House race • Chabot holds off Democratic challenge • Strickland retains Ohio's 6th district • Bellwether Kentucky, Indiana House races split GOVERNORS' RACES:
• Owens first GOP Colorado governor in more than two decades • Moderates inherit the governor's mansions • Former wrestler takes stunning win in Minnesota • Guinn edges Democrat rival to pick up Nevada • Knowles wins rare 2nd term in Alaska • GOP Geringer keeps Wyoming • Easy victory for Oregon Gov. Kitzhaber • Ryan picks up Illinois governorship • Democrat Davis wins heralded California governorship • Cellucci stays as Massachusetts governor • Conservative Johanns wins Nebraska governorship • Gov. Ridge wins big in Pennsylvania • Kempthorne wins landslide in Idaho • Democrat wins Iowa for first time in 30 years • Thompson wins record 4th term in Wisconsin • Taft wins close governor race in Ohio • Keating remains Oklahoma governor • GOP Gov. Janklow keeps South Dakota seat • New Mexico Gov. Johnson retains post • GOP Gov. Almond keeps Rhode Island seat • Gov. Engler easily wins re-election in Michigan • Barnes edges GOP rival for Georgia's top spot • Gov. Huckabee wins re-election in Arkansas • Arizona GOP Hull stays in office • Independent King keeps Maine seat • Kansas Gov. Graves easily wins re-election • Rowland wins re-election in Connecticut • Glendening retains office in Maryland • Siegelmen unseats incumbent James in Alabama • Sundquist stays as Tennessee governor • Texas Gov. George W. Bush wins in landslide • Hodges wins South Carolina governor race • Dean easily keeps Vermont governor seat • Jeb Bush wins big in Florida • Democrat Shaheen retains New Hampshire seat, gets third of GOP vote BALLOT RACES:
• Prop. 3 failure places California presidential primary in limbo • Medical marijuana popular at polls • Anti-affirmative action ballot measure • Washington state voters tie minimum wage to inflation • California OKs Indian gambling expansion • South Carolina removes ban on interracial marriage • Michigan voters soundly reject physician-assisted suicide • Plan to boost Calif. cigarette tax too close to call | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
