MPR: A Mixed Bag for Ventura

A Mixed Bag for Ventura
By Michael Khoo
July 14, 1999

A new poll commissioned by Minnesota Public Radio, KARE TV, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press shows Governor Jesse Ventura's approval rating holding steady. A clear majority of respondents says the governor is doing a good or excellent job in office. But a growing number is concerned about Ventura's extracurricular activities.

See the complete poll results.

THE POLL RESULTS INDICATE Governor Ventura continues to enjoy a fair amount of goodwill among Minnesota voters. Fifty-six percent of those polled approve of his performance in office, almost identical to his approval rating in April. Only eight percent rated him poor. Poll respondent Chris Postuma of New Hope says he's drawn to Ventura's personality and charisma.

Postuma: I think he's doing a pretty good job. He's not the norm. He kind of shakes up politics. It's not politics as usual. I really think he speaks his mind. He doesn't speak for the special-interest groups. He speaks for himself. That's appealing.

Postuma is one of 624 Minnesota voters contacted for the latest survey. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Ventura spokesman John Wodele says the governor is encouraged by the support he's receiving, but Ventura's goal isn't to win a popularity contest.

Wodele: He was very pleased that his favorability rating remains high, although he was quick to point out that he doesn't do business by polls and that he'll continue to lead in the way that he believes is right and not necessarily with an eye on polls.

Wodele notes that women gave Ventura higher marks than men. Sixty percent of the women say the governor's performance is "good" or "excellent" compared to 52 percent of men. Wodele says that indicates Ventura's support is broader than many may have thought. But the governor isn't winning over everyone. It appears most of the previously undecided voters have made up their minds and now rate him only "fair" or "poor." And the percentage who consider the governor's outside activities an embarrassment to the state has more than tripled to 16 percent; among them, Teresa Libby of Stillwater. Libby says Ventura's decision to return to the wrestling ring next month is "silly."

Lilly: I realize that he's an off - more of off-the-wall type politician -than most. But I think that it just doesn't hold any value, I guess, if you're off refereeing; wrestling things on your spare time. I mean, that's one thing to coach the high school football team, I mean that's great. But, you know, I don't know, in the wrestling ring is a little too much.

And a majority, including Libby, said Ventura's recent attack against a critic was offensive. Late last month, the governor referred to Darrell McKigney as a "big load... who ain't never run around the block before in his whole life." McKigney is the president of a conservative anti-tax group who has been an outspoken critic of the governor. Respondents split roughly equally on how they view the governor's book tour. Forty-two percent think it was appropriate versus 47 percent who said the opposite. Ventura declined to comment on the poll results, but he told a group of reporters why he thinks some Minnesotans are uneasy with his non-governmental activities.

Ventura: Maybe people are uncomfortable with it because they're more used to career politicians. And career politicians are more worried about getting elected to higher office rather than going back to the private sector when they're done doing it. See, I won't do that. When I'm done with this, I will go back to the private sector again and continue to be an entrepreneur and continue to exploit capitalism, which I like a lot.

Despite the concerns of some voters regarding Ventura's image and style, many more welcome his candor and colorfulness. Nearly half say he's a "breath of fresh air." And Republican Steve Sviggum, Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, says Ventura's personality has more to do with his popularity than his policies or political affiliation.

Sviggum: Well, I think the governor's popularity is about he himself. It's about the personality. It's about the person. It's not necessarily about the Reform Party and certainly not about the Reform agenda since we haven't even seen what that agenda is. I couldn't tell you what the agenda is from the standpoint of reform.

In fact, the poll shows despite Ventura's strong showing, only three percent of respondents identify with the Reform Party. But 27 percent do call themselves independents, and the figure is higher among younger voters. Ventura spokesman John Wodele says that is what will matter in the next election.

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