barkley071608
On the homepage
Schools
Out There
Petters
Burning
Home | Politically Connected | National Politics | U.S. Senate
Barkley joins Senate race
WIth Jesse Ventura announcing that he wouldn't run, Barkley, a longtime adviser to the former governor, put his hat in the ring.
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on Digg
See complete coverage
Related Content
poll: Did Jesse Ventura make the right decision?
More from U.S. Senate
With former Gov. Jesse Ventura saying he is not entering Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, his political mentor is running in his stead.
Dean Barkley, who briefly served in the Senate himself, filed for the office this afternoon as an Independence Party candidate.
Ventura announced Monday night that he's not running, a statement he made with the qualifier that he'd change his mind if God speaks to him.
Barkley joked this morning that he was "trying to find a woman God impersonator, because we all know God's a woman, so we can manage to change his mind."
Barring that, he said he would ask Ventura to serve as the honorary chairman of what will be his third run for the Senate. He gained enough votes in earlier runs to gain major party status for the Reform Party (now the Independence Party), which paved the way for Ventura's improbable victory a decade ago.
"I haven't gotten a yes or a no from him, but I'll take as much help from him as you can get," Barkley said.
Despite a late, unfunded start in what is becoming the most expensive Senate race in the country, Barkley said a Ventura-like upset is possible.
"I think the opportunity is there," he said. "Anyone with a brain can see that in Minnesota and nationwide, people are pretty well disgusted with both parties. There's room for a viable independent if you can get your message out."
After he managed Ventura's gubernatorial campaign, his protege appointed him to a job in state government and tapped him to fill the final weeks of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term six years ago.
"These guys can raise 25 zillion dollars, but they're still two vulnerable candidates who can be beat," Barkley said. "I hope the public will give me a shot. "They gave Ventura a shot. It's up to them."
As of shortly before 5 p.m. today, the filing deadilne, several other candidates have filed under the Independence Party label, including party endorsee Stephen Williams, former party chairman Jack Uldrich, Kurth Michael Anderson, Doug Williams, Bill Dahn and Darryl Stanton.
Recent U.S. Senate stories
Franken defends his win - July 15, 2008
Franken defends his win - In a response to arguments filed by Norm Coleman, Franken tells high court all is fair, square. More
The Whistleblower blog has moved
The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]
Recent posts
  Open positions!A new career awaits. Look through thousands of listings to find your new job. Start now! No resume? No problem!Create a skills profile in minutes, let a recruiter match you to an open position. Click here to get started. |
Win tickets to Erik Friedlander's 'Block Ice & Propane' in McGuire Theater at Walker Art Center.Vita.mn presents Erik Friedlander's 'Block Ice & Propane' in McGuire Theater at Walker Art Center on Dec. 5. |
Comment on this story | Read all 67 comments | Hide reader comments