On Mondays all things considered the Free Speech case at the Mall of America goes before the Minnesota Supreme Court that store and all the news on Mondays All Things Considered weekdays at 3 on Minnesota Public Radio. Can o w FM 91.1 and also an invitation to stay tuned now for a Talk of the Nation, which is the announcement that we were supposed to play Push the wrong button there Talk of the Nation Ray Suarez coming up at 1 this afternoon a right after our a noon our conversation with as we say the film tutorial cabinets, hopefully and continuing conversation with political analyst Barclays Horner and States all of that still to come here on Minnesota Public Radio. The forecast for the state of Minnesota sunny in the north partly sunny of Park partly cloudy partly cloudy to cloudy in the southern half of the state today with highs upper 30s to near 50. You're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. We have a cloudy Sky 40° at care W FM 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul. I should be partly cloudy and Breezy in the Twin Cities this afternoon with a high temperature in the mid to Upper forties partly cloudy tonight with a low in the mid-twenties to around Thirty partly cloudy tomorrow at the high in the low to mid forties. It's a minute now past 12. For national public radio news in Washington, I'm Craig Wyndham The Bleak reports from rescue crews and Aid workers in Nicaragua and Honduras have convinced officials in those two countries that at least 7,000 people may have been killed by the flooding and landslides triggered by the remnants of hurricane Mitch. NPR's Phillip Davis reports officials in Nicaragua people died when the slopes of the Casita volcano 75 miles north of the capital of dissolved into a gigantic mudslides sweeping houses and victims as much as six miles away at least four Villages were destroyed workers are still searching for survivors the government of Nicaragua declare three days of mourning and response and Honduras disaster officials estimate that at least 5,000 people have died so far from the storm including Cesar Castellanos, the mayor of the capital of Tegucigalpa whose helicopter crashed while surveying damage to the city war deaths were also reported in El Salvador, Costa Rica. In Panama Phillip Davis NPR news Mexico City flooding has forced hundreds of people from their homes in southern Kansas and Northern Oklahoma up to a foot of rain has sent rivers over there banks in those two states and officials are predicting more flooding this week. President Clinton is meeting with top advisers today to discuss a response to a rock's latest Defiance of you and weapons inspection a White House. Spokesman says Mr. Clinton is reviewing all options after Iraq with through its cooperation with the inspections. The president has said the UN Security Council will take the lead and confronting a rock but that he has not ruled out the use of military force as Russian president Boris Yeltsin recuperates at a Black Sea Resort critics are stepping up their pressure for him to leave office. NPR's Michele kelemen reports for Moscow going off is demanding that Yeltsin undergo a medical check-up. He predicts doctors will find what he says is known. He told journalists yelton is demoralized and drink so much that he cannot do it. Job at comments sparked an angry reaction from yelton's press secretary who said zyuganov would rather insult the president then conduct a civilized dialogue another age suggested the Kremlin would soon enough for calling yelton a drunkard yeltsin's Aid say, the Russian leader is suffering from fatigue and high blood pressure and we'll stay on vacation in Sochi for 2 weeks. He is put prime minister evgeny Primo off in charge of economic matters in the meantime is critics are calling for changes to the Constitution the strip yelton of some of his best powers, Michele. Kelemen NPR news Moscow Supreme Court has turned down an appeal by workers at a top-secret Air Force Base in Nevada Poclain the day and their colleagues may have been exposed to extremely harmful levels of hazardous waste the court let stand the ruling of throughout the lawsuit over the burning of toxic waste at Area 51 about 90 miles. North of Las Vegas on Wall Street. The Dow is up 138 points. This is NPR news support for NPR. From this and other NPR member stations contributors include the Alfred P Sloan Foundation supporting public understanding of Technology industry and economic growth news from Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Greta Cunningham Minnesota, three major party gubernatorial candidates are on the campaign Trail today making a final push to get their supporters out to the polls tomorrow Reform Party candidate. Jesse Ventura is campaigning this afternoon in Duluth Cloquet in Hinckley. He'll attend the rally tonight at the Medina Ballroom d a feller. Skip Humphrey began his day what stops in Moorhead and Duluth Humphrey will get some support from senator Paul wellstone today at a press conference in Maplewood Republican Norm Coleman campaign in Duluth this morning and heads to Morehead Alexandria at Mankato and Rochester this afternoon recent polls show likely voters are about evenly split among the three candidates neighbors of a murdered Minneapolis man plan a flashlight vigil tonight seventy-year-old Bob fernland was gunned down outside of his South Minneapolis, home as he got out of his car last. Police have been unable to identify suspects or motive. Bobby Myers is one of the visuals organizers says there are three reasons for holding the event that says to honor Robert fernland to support his family and to come together as a community to make a loud statement that this just won't be tolerated in our neighborhood in our city or anywhere Community leaders want to step up the effort to catch the people responsible for the Murder By setting up a reward fund and working with book Crime Stoppers program organizers. Hope hundreds of people will attend tonight's vigil which begins at 6:30 outside for lunch home the forecast for the state of Minnesota soda today calls for Sunshine in the north. Probably the most cloudy skies and Central and Southern Minnesota ice today ranging eur38 to 55° at this hour Duluth reports cloudy skies and 37. It's partly sunny in Rochester and 42 mostly sunny in St. Cloud in 39 in the Twin Cities cloudy 40. That's a news update on Greta Cunningham. It's now past 12. Good afternoon, and welcome back to a special election Eve edition of midday here on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary I can glad you could join us. What a clown with Sarah stays Tom Horner and Dean Barkley have joined us again this dollar as we countdown to election day. And that is tomorrow the polls open at 7 tomorrow morning. They'll be open till 8 tomorrow night. And then of course we'll be on the are actually we're going to start our special election night coverage at 7. Tomorrow night National Public. Radio will be on the air with a complete coverage of all the races around the country and we will be on the air with all the election results here in Minnesota at 8 tomorrow evening. We'll have analysis we're going to hear from all the candidates should be a lively evening tomorrow night. So it may be a long you may be a long evening if the poles turn out to be accurate. So we sure hope you'll be able to attune in this hour we're going to be King with all three of the major party candidates for Governor joining us from the campaign Trail and certainly invite you to join our conversation as well. Let me give you the phone number if you'd like to call in with your questions for our political analysts. That's number is 227-6002 to 76020 cities outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828. You might want to wait for just a little while. Lots of callers are already lined up. But in the meanwhile, we have been joined by the dfl candidate for governor. Skip Humphrey good afternoon this time free on your in Duluth space of a little bit of a snow shower snow get voting. Now if you're elected governor, can you do something about that snow in early November delay on it? Growing indicated on Friday. She thought about 53% of Minnesota's eligible voters will actually be voting. Do you get the sense that she's about On Target to or do you do the sensors more enthusiasm left less enthusiasm? What's your reading prediction there? I got you though. I think there's going to be at least another five maybe 10% above that. I want to see us at least in the sixties and hopefully in the 70s that would be that would be kind of the standard for Minnesota and it would really set the pace. I want people to come out and vote and make a decision as to the direction that our statement should go and obviously I'm deeply concerned about our families and our children and their education in their public education with smaller class sizes. Those are those are the critical decision The Early Learning years. With childcare those are so important and frankly the public needs to send the message that we are going to keep those commitment. So that's what I'm hoping. They will do and they think tomorrow is there any part of your message? Mr. Humphrey that you wish people would zero in on a little more that you maybe haven't been able to get through to people yet. People are going to the polls but I will be going to the polls than I think they are the latest public polling shows that are beginning to separate out the the promises that just doesn't it won't be able to be kept in the and the you know, the entertainment show and they're getting down to the business thing who are the candidates that really have a plan of action that is going to help my family help my children move ahead with the quality of healthcare with the needs of education and they're going to see and they've been saying and they are beginning to say more strongly. That's that's that's where they're going to be and I think you're going to see that kind of a campaign be successful with whoever wins. It doesn't look like you'll be able to have a real majority of support. Is that okay going to be a problem of any sort? See that decision made this is going to be something that in the quiet of that the voting booth the people in Minnesota are going to stand up and say we know what has brought us this far and made this date as good as it is, and we know that we're going to do the same thing in the future. We're going to see that we support our Working Families and that's that's critical. When you tie that education me about investment in education and public schools with a tax cut that supports working families and their educational needs for their children. Then I think you've got the Dynamics for a majority that will send the right messages for the signal of the direction that these the people want to go in one last question for you. Mr. Humphrey. How important is your last name to this race? I don't think it would be but I I hope they know. That is that I have tried to be there in the past for them and taking on those stuff bites and I'm going to continue to do the same in the future. And if that happens to come along and a tradition of being a Humphrey so much the better. Thank you, sir. And good luck to you dfl gubernatorial candidates. Skip Humphrey joining us from the campaign Trail currently. Mr. Humphrey is in Duluth still to come this hour. We're going to be talking with Jesse Ventura and Norm Coleman here in the studios in the studio. Rather our political analyst Sarah stays Time Warner Dean Barclay are with us quick comment on the Humphrey campaign hasn't gone pretty much as you folks expected. It would Sarah has gone very well. Of course, the the one factor that nobody anticipated was the Jesse Ventura Factor So to that extent it has not gone the way the way any of us anticipated but aside from that I think that skip Humphrey has been able to Maintain the core dfl base in the state. And as I said earlier, although he did fall behind or not. He never fell behind any of the candidates, but he fell behind his high point in the poles during the last couple of weeks. He's regained a good deal of that ground and seems to be building as the momentum has shifted to him, more or republican view. Well, if I were skip Humphrey, I would be outraged with the sum of the media polls. I don't think that's skip Humphrey friends never had a 20-point lead in September. I think that was a reflection of the name of people knowing skip Humphrey Valley Primary of not knowing Jesse Ventura Norm Coleman and people just not engaged and Anna did seem to suggest that Humphrey had this invincible lead that then started to a road and I don't think that happen. I do think however that skip Humphrey suffers in this campaign from the same problem that skip Humphrey frequently has had as a Statewide as a Child Statewide candidates and as a real Statewide candidates for the United States Senate 1988. And that is that that he keeps falling back on the same answers that just aren't resonating with people anymore. He doesn't offer anything new creative and alternative to more government. It's just let's spend more and if you look closely even his tax cuts really are spending programs is there they're their tax deductions and credits. It's if you spend something then you get something back and I don't think those messages are heading home with people and there has been an emotion of the hungry for one chance. Let's let's Let me give Dean Barclay is MOMA t r i think that would happen to this happening again. The borders of finally figured out that the buzzword Investments means taxes. We are the second highest tax state the country and I think Humphrey made a huge mistake by trying to promise a new investment a new program to take care of every problem out there. It isn't selling And his decline from his 42 down to 34. What is 89.2 Klein reflects? Exactly. Jessie's 8-point search. We took those conservative Democrats are basically are tired of hearing the same dfl storyline of invest invest in best and we got them. Now. The question is, is there any way he can get them back and that's what we're battling right now. All three candidates are now in Duluth. Jesse should be driving in right now in Battlegrounds going on right now last word to democrats aristeas for every problem. That is not true. Although there are some people who wish that he would because in fact there are still quite a few minnesotans who believe in government and believe that government can offer meaningful solutions to some of our social problems. And so to the extent that Humphrey is a candidate who believes that government is a good thing. Then he is reflecting generally that point of view with in, Minnesota. Are you up? I'm looking at the Christian Science monitor from last Friday, and I'm great to see the Jesse Ventura's on the cover. And I think that's a a real good indication of where we're going to this election. My question is concerning the stadium. I think that's a good situation that Norman actually wants to build with user fees, which is probably impossible and Skip Scott, Moe was supporting it and just use only one of the straight answer. So I guess I'd like om put on the stadium and where that issue with it's true that Rodger, Moe did support it. However, Rodger MO is not running for governor Rodger MO is running for lieutenant governor, and there's a substantial difference between those two positions. Skip Humphrey is firmly in opposition to any public financing for sports stadiums. What concerns me is just made a good point of debate. Skip says he's against it, but he cancelled the student debate the Mall of America. Couple Sundays ago and why did he cancel that he was in Red McCombs boxy watching the Vikings rather than doing a student debate and Skip really didn't have an answer. That concerns me that skip would be in Red McCombs box watching the Viking game when he saying that he's against so spending Jesse you set up a New York Met pitcher got 19 million dollars a year. He says they're spending so much money build their own Dam stadium. That was a quote. He said that's exactly where he's at Pro Sports is out of control Norm got $150 interest-free loan to get his stadium and if people want the governor that will kowtow to Publix Sports Empires. They can look for norm and take a look at Skip and say worse is Allegiant since really at I think there's no question where Jesse's are at and I think that's exactly the kind of trivialization that at this campaign represents in Jesse Ventura to and then I say, this is a republican whether or not skip Humphrey satin Red McCombs box is completely irrelevant to the public policy issue of What is our what should be our our involvement in funding public infrastructure? And yes, I think everybody would agree other than the players themselves that professional sports are out of control the issue from Minnesota. However is to what extent are the Vikings the the Timberwolves the Twins and and the new Minnesota Wild public assets to what extent do they reflect quality of life that we in Minnesota want and if we think we're important and the TV ratings the attendance to follow the support of a fan switch suggested that they are public assets that we ought to retain them. The question is how do we find a way to retain them and simply by standing up and and using class Warfare to say skip Humphrey was in Red McCombs box and Norm Coleman is a tool of special interests. I think is is an appalling trivialization of the issues, but we ought to be doing a thing if we want to save these assets. How do we do it? What's the middle ground? Where can we find a solution instead of? Going in with a sledgehammer to bash anybody who has the temerity to say maybe we ought to talk about it Dave your question place on the large-scale operations in factory farms that are virtually on regular regulated under Carlson. These people have any plans with some medications are controls. We can you know, continue to drive out the family farmer polluted groundwater and turn this into a cesspool like North Carolina has with their huge hog operations and open the guns. Were they important issue in this election? And in the last legislative session is well and I suspect we'll be around for a while both. Skip Humphrey and Rodger Moore very strong supporters of the family farm. They have both spent a long time and going to, Minnesota. Rodger Miller is from Greater Minnesota and they oppose expansion of the feedlots, Minnesota and tear and Jesse's wife Terri grew up in a family farm down in southern Minnesota and we had to stop there. And Jesse is said we have to support the small family farmer find a way for them to exist. He said we need to do a moratorium on the feedlot issue right now to take a look what it is doing to the environment and try to figure out a smart sensible Common Sense plan will balance the needs of livestock industry to properly grow their product and the and the concerns of the environment. So he would say we have to put a stop right now a temporary moratorium to take a look at the issue and find a common ground. Hey, send solution to the environment doesn't get pulled over yet farmers can still make a profit. And again, I think this is another example of where solution is needed. Not just more rhetoric. Yes. Everybody isn't. Family Farm, yes. Everybody is in favor of Environmental Protection, but the fact of the matter is North Carolina does have those big operations in other states do have those big operations and it is important for Minnesota Farmers and and for real communities to be able to compete with those operations in a way that makes economic sense and in a way that makes social sense for the state of Minnesota. That's the solution. It has to be found Reform Party candidate. Jesse Ventura joins us now from the campaign Trail Mister bed quote. Neglia kind of disappeared on me for a moment. We're up here traveling from Virginia down to Cloquet right now. How's the how's the victory tour going much of a reception much enthusiasm. Doing well here on the range with all the Rangers today. We went to the bank job. Jacquees Call Derek and last. We're going 6 to 700 people at 11 at night. I know the unfortunately the phone is breaking up here. So let's keep this kind of short. I know that the young people are pretty critical to your for your fate tomorrow. Any any way you can get those people actually vote. well That's a not masturbating Toro. Let's call you back. Let's get you on a cleaner line here. So we can actually understand you Jesse Ventura joining us obviously by cell phone on the road to Cloquet. And what we'll do here is trying to get that I get a cleaner line hooked up so we can hear what the Jesse Ventura has to say. We're also expecting to talk with a norm Coleman in just a little while as he hustled around the straight to trying to look for some boats as well. Meanwhile, let's take another caller hear what the question for analyst Jean make a statement and and correct. What I heard Mr. Barclay say just a few minutes ago. In fact, I believe Mr. Barclay said that Jesse Ventura never said that there is no place in government for child care when in fact, mr. Ventura was on channel 5 along with mr. Coleman in the last several days and he went into great length about how his mother had. Higher the grandmother next door. Thereby creating a job for granny and said in fact quote on quote. There is no room in government for child care. I think. Mr. Barclays might be tending to whitewash is candidate on the eve of the election and the only other point that I would actually two points when the most recent hundred greatest literary list came out several months ago, Mr. Ventura was on public radio and and ask his opinion and he said inside she had never read one of the books on his list. I'd like to know how in the world you ever got past High School never having read any of those and really just miss the whole thing as literature being unimportant and I can't understand how a governor of the state of Minnesota where education is so important would take such a trifling view of literature over the past Century and then the last comment and that neither of our current senator. Represent the same state of Minnesota. I think it's a great that kind of me because in fact we have people who are very liberal and in support of mr. Wellstone and who are on the other end of the spectrum and who are very conservative and what greater way to support a diverse Minnesota than having the two senators that we currently have. And with that I will take your response. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Jean Dean Barclay. If you are a liberal or conservative you feel wonderful about having Paul wellstone a ride grams you sent it. But if you're a Centrist moderate you're being a welder cuz you feel like nobody's representing you and I think that's what we're all about. Jesse has never said he's going to demolish daycare. He had a question about the sliding scale daycare issue. He said he would take a look at that program with every other program to see if it can't be done done better and if it could be phased out cuz we no longer needed because the welfare reforms of work that people back to work. I'll be a wonderful thing that that maybe Mom and Dad could stay home. If we reduce taxes enough. We're only one person had to work instead of two to support a family then maybe the ideal solution be having mom and dad take care of the kids at home. And should we be concerned that he apparently has not right read some great works school I gave up reading cuz I burnt out and I read the sports page every the metro section the occasionally the put the Pioneer Press editorial pages, but I'm not a big reader either just because you're not a big reader doesn't mean that you're necessarily not intelligent. You're the one that brought up the business of the Senators representing the what amount to the extremes. First of all, I'm an English major. There is a real issue of always responding either by saying government is bad or or government always is the answer and in some ways it Is good because I do believe that partisanship has a value that Rod grams and and Paul wellstone represent different constituencies in Minnesota in that comment really was made to financing that that it's not the money so much as it is that the constituencies that they represent but I think they're also has to be room for some creativity and for some consensus-building and that's what we seem to be lacking in this campaign and and in general in politics today and I think the perfect example is the the non debate over public education that is occurring in in this campaign where skip Humphrey wants to pretend that Norm Coleman is going to destroy public schools and quite the contrary Norm. Coleman has been a strong supporter of public education when Norm Coleman has offered however is Let's Be creative. Let's let's say that we can have a education system that goes beyond public schools and it's not vouchers. It's giving parents the opportunity to decide on their own what they want for their children Beyond public education might be Public education plus private tutoring plus some other things. Those are the kinds of of discussions that we ought to be having in a campaign because I think campaigns have value in reaching the people in education the people and then building some consensus and we're losing that kind of value when we saw trivialize issues and campaigns Sarah space of this campaign. I'm I'm just looking right now at a mentor for governor ad that ran Statewide yesterday and in this adventure makes 25 points comparing than to Norm Coleman and of those 25, they are things like what kind of clothes they wear how tall they are how much they weigh how long they've been married to the same woman do they smoke cigars are not things like that. Only three of the 25 points touch on actual issues and to the extent that that there is a downside to all of the excitement. It's being generated by this campaign. It is that there is a lot of fun being made of government and of public service and I think the way in which Ventura has portrayed government as being somehow comprised of people who are foolish or just self-absorbed and not concerned about issues or being leaders in their communities it it's just really a shame because I don't think that that represents the best that Minnesota has to offer. I'm really excited about all the new people that are potentially becoming political activist as a result of his campaign. I think it's wonderful that young people are being energized and being brought in but it's a shame if they're being brought in on a wave of cynicism and I'm in a suit of a wave of of anti-government rhetoric. Connect to him they believe he's a real person talking to them. Not at them. He's made politics fun. We made our message in a way that's going to relate to these kids and if we're guilty of that were guilty of that. I'm convicted that we made politics fun. We going to make a message that are going to relate the kids and I guess we are guilty of that kind of gas. But what about turning public servants into bums basically, but I mean, he was a public servant himself. He was a mayor for four years. He's a chairman is one of the directors and Make-A-Wish Foundation. I use a volunteer football coach. I mean, he's been out there in the community this this image of Jesse Ventura. The wrecking ball is just a bunch of garbage. It's not Jesse Ventura is not a wrecking ball. Jesse Ventura gave up his job. He's committed hit a whole year of his life to this because he believes that politics is broken and somehow it's got to be fixed and he is attempting to do his best to try to fix it at that remains to be seen but his rhetoric is Wrecking Ball rhetoric. Representative Tom rukavina join just now from Virginia. Good afternoon, sir, being at the community college. Nobody likes, you know and let you know when it comes to politics and we have a lot of fun and it all we ask Jesse if you questions and I think you got a little upset but no I asked him to get serious as the bus was his van was pulling away as motorhome. And I suggest you these kids parents are there jobs depend on a taconite industry and let's get serious. You know, what are you going to do to tackle the problem of how are you going to help us than just his response was that? Why should I help you? You're not helping me as the bus drove away still in I guess you know what I want to ask. Is this the kind of reform? Politics are we going to have by Jesse body-slamming or throwing us into the turnbuckle lie, every area to stay 3 doesn't get the majority of the vote if he wins because that's kind of cute but this is a serious problem for us and we lost over 20% of our population in the 80s that won the steel industry crash back then and things don't look good right now. And this is a serious issue not acute issue. So he doesn't think it's cute and I don't think he was aiming at anywhere but at UMass the wreck of any because you are the one along with skip Humphrey that came out with a press release saying that Jesse Ventura was against the prevailing wage your name was on it was there and I think he was probably looking at you being a little mad that you were out there misrepresenting its position on that. Jesse Ventura has a position on that. He doesn't think the NAFTA Provisions worked. Well when it when it comes to Canada and he believes 100% equivocally that the trade has to be fair we can have just open doors and letting other countries dump their steel into this country, which I wipe out the steel. Industrialize with Jesse all day yesterday. He answered that question then and I think his anger was more pointed at you personally. I want to address a question to Sarah and Tom Democrat and Republican. I find it astonishing that here. We are the day before the election and the person who is clearly become the dominant factor in this election is the third party candidate not normally by this time, if you if you got a third-party candidates are just kind of going through the motions finishing things up Jesse Ventura. I think it's fair to say has become the dominant factor in this race and the dominant personality why that's a good question what happened with your candidates or your parties are your agendas or what? What's what's what's happened here. I don't know that it's necessarily something to happen with our candidates or our parties or agendas, but I will point out that this Factor of a third-party Minnesota is not new Ross Perot had a fairly significant presence when he ran here in Minnesota and what Jesse Ventura seems to represent is sort of a Libertarian approach to government which is somewhat seems to be somewhat socially liberal and economically conservative and there is a certain element of Minnesota politics that response to that kind of thing. Although I will say that I was very surprised to see The Surge that Jesse has been experiencing in the last two weeks. I think maybe at least four reasons why Jesse Ventura has dominated that this campaign first is that for the last 15-20 years we have had campaigns that essentially have spent millions of dollars to say government is bad and politicians are bad. Jesse Ventura. Simply Does It Better funny, you're more effectively and what the Voice than the other candidates. Secondly, I think that the two major parties in a lot of ways have failed and then again, it's two parties in Minnesota that can nominate John Marty and Alan quest for the highest office in this state. I think our failures in in capturing the public sentiment and and capturing what people of Minnesota really want to talk about an episode to some extent Jesse is right. It is an opportunity to retaliate and and people are doing that third. I think it's a problem that a problem is it's the opportunity of a good economy that the people don't have to look at government to say I need government has a solution right now because my life is is in trouble because my life is threatened. My conomic security is threatened. It's a safe time to vote for a Jesse Ventura Court be a supporter of Jesse Ventura because you don't have to worry quite as much about what he's going to do to government and forth. And finally, I think it's a reflection of all the nonsense that is going on in Washington today. People are just sick and tired of the Republicans wanting to to Sidetrack the issues this way and the Democrats clearly wanted him to decide to crack the issues that way and again Jesse Ventura with this message of retaliate. I think captures the time politically all across the country with this Ken Starr Bill Clinton Monica Lewinsky business. It is really tarnished politics Nationwide and that's also true here in Minnesota. It's really driven up the level of anger and cynicism ability of Jesse Ventura to connect two people people have been looking for someone to believe in and Desi seems to been able to find that the ability to connect these people understand that his personality personality in politics. And I mean that you're right but his personality his ability to connect is just unbelievable. I've never seen it before and politics. There's just something special about an idiot. Even go farther than that. I don't think it is just personality and just humor. I think Jesse Ventura is delivering a message that a lot of people are are resonating to not because they believed government is is bad. Although you spend millions of dollars to tell people something every two years and eventually they're going to believe it. But but I think they believe that the government hasn't been responsive to them that that we have these silly side issue debates. And again public education is a perfect case in point that you have major parties talking about issues that aren't relevant what's relevant in education. Yes, what kind of kids are we producing our our our schools? Whether they're at their private public or homeschool? Are they producing children who who can be responsible members of society who can be productive members of society who can be happy members of society in a lot of people have doubts about that. But instead of getting a debate over what we ought to do about the issue we get a debate over silly issues. And then we have to stop as I think all politicians but particularly the two parties and if the Reform Party becomes the third party of Minnesota, then you have to join us also Dean and we have to start talking about solution. Otherwise, we're going to have more and more Jesse Ventura and I don't think that's good for government. I do it's in good for politics. I mean, it's good for getting people engaged, but it's not going to find Solutions and we need Solutions Kevin your question, please. Yeah, I was just wondering why does it Norm Coleman came to Minnesota? Did he find the pickings are easier or what was the story with that? One thing people don't understand here is it seems that Humphrey has been at the public government trough is all life is education was paid for by us. Now. He wants us to support him in his future life, but I don't understand history. Well, this Time Warner Kevin to get him and I think those are the kinds of issues that frankly aren't particularly relevant fact matter is Skip Humphrey has been a lifelong politician. There it is. That's his career. Choose that that's good or that's not good. But but it's not necessarily something to criticize the person for Norm Coleman came to Minnesota for the same reason that a lot of people come to Minnesota's because they find that there is opportunity here. There was economically opportunity. He went to school in in Iowa and moved up here 20-25 years ago because he found that that it wasn't engaged public that there was an opportunity for public service and that was economically opportunity in in Minnesota. That's why a lot of people have come to the state media coverage of a campaign so far has it been pretty decent pretty awful. I would you write it. I would rate it very very well. I think media coverage has been just outstanding this year people who are not sure where candidates stand on the issues have not been paying attention. All of the media has done an excellent job this year. It's it's really been a breath of fresh air, I think in and hopefully setting a standard for the future. I would give it a beer with a given a except for the episode where the precipice represent on Jesse's position on legal legalizing drugs and prostitution when they forgot the biggest quote of a state when it's absolutely not when they asked him if he was in favor of it it just kind of conveniently forgot the the answer absolutely not other than that, I think it's been very good. It's been very good that they've got out there. We've got all three campaigns of got more free coverage than than Carter has pills. I don't think anyone would complain about that the coverage in all in all it's been pretty fair coverage Dean. That's how we knew that. Jesse was becoming a mainstream candidate is when he has to the retraction you didn't have to work three tracks in the Press issued a correction. Both papers ran corrective Stories the next day someone apologizing the best they can for failing to accurately depict his position. We just ate two quick things about the other meeting. I think it has been generally traffic. I'm but but two things one is that I think it clearly has challenged the conventional wisdom that has taken hold in most campaigns that debates don't mean anything. I think Jesse Ventura to a large extent is a creation of debates that that he performed very very well in the debates that wear number of database and that they received broad coverage and people clearly work starting to tune into the debates and and Jesse Ventura took advantage of that. I'm in and that's all for the better of of politics in Minnesota. I think the one notable shortcoming and worse this year than it's been in in the past is the used by the media polls. I think polls are an incredible disservice to the electorate because people don't understand them as a snapshot in time and the media don't report what is important about pulls the report what is least important about a poll taken two months before election day and and that's the horse race. They ought to be reporting on what are some of the underlying issues and Trends using poles to educate people. Not to drive to sessions. I really agree with him that the polls are just such a blunt instrument and therefore very difficult to understand and in no case have any one that said that that conducted in people's done much analysis to truly explain to us why it is that people were saying the things or taking positions that they were taking within the polls secondarily polls have no way of predicting who is actually going to show up to vote and they are historically highly inaccurate and so they present a certain image of momentum prior to an election that generally is not born out on Election Day and it's very very misleading and it distorts people's behavior on Election Day. More than 1% in any pool and I've never done in less than 5 so it isn't it true that all that I don't want to bog down and pulls R&B time with me or call me here shortly. And I think we're going to be able to get Jesse Ventura back on the phone in a clear line. He's out of iron. Isn't it true that if there weren't these Independent Media polls run on the elections at all Acana to be running around claiming while I'm way I had and the other guy is he's he's been left in the dust people here that message and say well he must be must be telling me the truth. But but don't they do that. Anyway, Gary campaign, particularly 60 days out don't look at poles and say oh my goodness. He's 20 points. I had time to wrap it up instead. They say what's driving that vote. What are the issues what people care about what are the values that they hold what I thought we'd be talking about that would resonate with photos and that's did the significant other pull in my life. Yes, I guess I am what you would call an order that have gone through an evolution. I originally was going to vote for Jesse Ventura and then I listened to Jesse on your program. I believe Gary and at one point it questioner scored Jesse with a question asking him if he would be willing to make his text public tax returns. Wrecking ball rhetoric and angrily ask the gentleman. Hey buddy. Do I asked you to make your tax returns Papa? I understand that. Also. There has been a real large turnover in Brooklyn Park city managers and City staff after Jesse Ventura became of them are there not I want to tell Mister Barclay here. Exactly what I meant, sir. I know you are an apologist for Jesse Ventura. I honestly was going to vote for the gentleman. I have not signed an ad. This is an honest voter response, you know, the Beatles come down pretty hard on me. So Jesse Ventura is very protective of his family and his private life. He does not believe that everyone is know everything there is about a person just because you're running for public office in a net that he is protective of his family and his privacy and that probably did hit a nerve is human. He does make mistakes. He does get angry. Sometimes just like all of us do but then again, it's the difference in how you build consensus around an issue as opposed to how you retaliate in 98 and simply to slam a call or to save some of the business and I happen to agree with that. We do go too far and I do think that tax records largely irrelevant to an electric choice, but I think there's an opportunity for a candidate who has this incredible platform of a campaign to educate people to say why and how we ought to focus on what the real issues are. The real issues aren't my income tax returns. The real issues are how am I going to govern and and that's what we need out of our candidates and that's what we're not getting that I have been sorry to see in this election is that while two of the candidates have come forward with a vision for Minnesota in the future the third candidate Jesse Ventura has not come forward with a vision. His vision has been one of retaliation of Anger of of fighting back against the establishment of political establishment, but it isn't a Visionary one if there's no clear sense as to where he wants to leave the state and I I just ate I find that a little bit depressing must have been on the tour with us because just as much as hope for this what given up hope on the other two parties doing anything that can relate to us. I mean, maybe just don't understand where we're coming from and why were frustrated the way the Democrats Republicans have Governor Ducey represents a hope to these people that maybe he will be different than all the promises that we here and then we know they aren't kept telling us what we want to hear to get elected then doing your own thing. That's what Jesse represents is. Maybe this guy will be different and we can believe in it and we can start believing in government again, and that's what I see out there. That's why I see people coming back into the process. He's not an antitrust. He's a positive choice because they can believe in the sky now to history will tell whether it was well kept belief or not. If you win, I'm firmly believe he'll be a very good Governor you guys can disagree and that's what this is all about. But that's what tomorrow is going to tell us the weather in that his message and and what he's doing out there is going to work or not. Moment of Hope in his message. I see much more of an element of anger and retaliation. That's what I'm reacting candidate. But I've seen nothing but excitement smiles and hope in front in our campaign. And again if we're guilty of something I'm I'm convicted of it cuz wherever the ball and he's energizing people and he's not ripping people. He just didn't get out there help me if we wanted to sit there and have a different course in the state vote for me. If you want to help me do it in this been nothing but positive and upbeat. We are the collar brought up the the the issue of language and so on and let's look at that for just a second from the other Viewpoint isn't there a lesson to be learned for the more traditional candidates of political candidates in this state that it really doesn't hurt. In fact, it's probably good to speak your mind. Just say what you actually believe as opposed to what the latest focus group might tell you. You say it in very very clear language. That's why Jesse's been doing so well in the debates because he can articulate very clearly what it is that he's trying to say and both Norm Coleman and Skip Humphrey have occasionally attend tended to respond in acronyms and alphabet soup kind of rhetoric that people don't necessarily understand people have been able to understand some aspects of just even towards message a little bit more clearly. I do think that there is something for us to learn in that aren't saying what they say. They believe in a woman is very committed to his beliefs, but I think it does say that they have to find issues that better connect with the voters and they have to find Solutions in political speak st. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman joins us now from the campaign Trail. Where are you now? This reception we worked in Duluth just a little while ago couple days ago. We were up in or Minnesota that they were over 300 300 folks from from northern Minnesota fired up about Norm Coleman Republican it that's a miracle moment in politics, but it is time and I was listening to that speaking to people this year. It is Everybody's Talkin by cutting taxes movies on it. I'm not everyone's talking about growing jobs. When we've done it. Everyone's talking about being tough and vigorous on crime and you know, we can safely put more cops on the street and I'm the only prosecutor and we've done with it and I think people responding very very well. We just have to have to win the election tomorrow, but I really believe we won the debate then tomorrow I should be a great day for Norm Coleman and the rest of our ticket waived by seeing lots of ads we've had lots of debates lots of media coverage. Is there anything mr. Coleman that at this late date you think people aren't yet clear about In terms of Norm Coleman where you stand on the issues any last message you want to get out the people in this process, right? I think it's real clear when you walk in that voting booth tomorrow. I'll be thinking about the future be thinking about the next millennium that your family and vote for the person who has done with his promise. We've cut taxes created jobs for more cops on the street than Africa. Sephiroth a choice in education parental involvement quality education for every child if that's what people are thinking. It's actually told me I've listened are then we will be very successful on Tuesday in Minnesota will have a bright future is entirely possible that whoever wins tomorrow will not get a will not be supported by the majority of even the voters never the last image already of minnesotans. Is that going to be a problem? I want their taxes raised they don't believe that the solution to their problems and what government programs that message is, very consistent doubt. They give people more economic freedom open opportunity. I've been saying it and I N Denwood Separates Me from the rest as I've been doing it and I think that will be the margin of Victory but there is a mandate there's a mandate out there for further. Don't tax us to death and regulator Steph. Make sure I streets are safe for kids birthday party schools. I can deliver on that but I that that's not a divided issue. This is a unified issue who who can really deliver. Who do you trust that deliver on those things? And in the end I like we will be quite successful making a strong and good luck to you. Thank you very much. Take care of Palm Aire Norm Coleman Republican candidate for governor joining us from the campaign Trail in Moorhead all of the candidates, of course out and about making several stops around Minnesota this last day of the campaign and joining us here in the studio political analyst Aerospace. Dean Markley, the Reform Party candidate talking about tomorrow's election in joining us know Jesse Ventura Reform Party candidate for governor and Jessie. I think that the phone sounds a little better this time you were saying that to you encountered some real enthusiastic crowds. And we were about an hour to two hours late. We have four to five hundred people that stayed there unbelievable enthusiasm yelling hollering screaming with signs and honking and now, you know, the police were very Cooperative they gave us escorts in and out of town and they even called they had to the other towns. We were heading for late at night and it was just phenomenal the young people apparently are real critical to your success or lack of it tomorrow. How are you going to get them to actually vote historically young people. Just don't vote. Jesse Ventura has never been a candidate before has he You think you are going to show up? Absolutely on I believe in the young people. I think they want to be. People told me they're not only just they're going to vote. They're getting all their friends to vote to very exciting. I think everyone should be drilled. I think the other candidates should be thrilled that this particular election is caused such enthusiasm amongst young high school and college kids to be part of the process that but then again those two candidates canceled out on a high school debate. So maybe they're not that three young people involved. We spent the better part of two hours talking about the Ventura phenomena here on midday. What is the what's the root of your europiel Jesse? Is it your personality or your stand on the issues? Don't know. I guess you'd have to ask the people that are at that. I'm appealing to on that. I think it's the fact that I'm not afraid to say. I don't know something. I'm not afraid. I'm not I don't make promises that I can't keep I think the other two are your typical career politicians who just simply get up there and promise everything including the kitchen sink to everybody. I don't do that and what I'm hearing from the average. Minnesota exact a young voter last night put it all into perspective. He said Jesse U R Us as simple as that song you are us And I fuck what more can I say to that well, good luck to you and thanks for joining us. Good. Okay Reform Party going to toriel candidate Jesse Ventura joining us from the campaign Trail. Finally got a halfway decent phone line. We don't have a lot of time left here folks, but I'm curious now not a minute from each of you if we could Doug Sarah stays. What is it that Humphrey is going to do. What should he be doing here in these last winning hours before people start voting it. I think that momentum is moving toward skip Humphrey after he struggled a bit earlier in October as a result at s Town point that earlier of some rather unfortunate poll results came out right after the primary. Skip Humphrey will need to continue to shore up his base. However in the next during the next twenty-four hours, I think he's going to do that but Which Beyond his base his base being the core City area the 8th congressional district 6 congressional district and the 7th congressional district need to reach Beyond those that his Corps base and move into the norm Coleman base and try to retrieve some of the more conservative Democrats that may be slipping away to Jesse Ventura. What should I be doing here in this these last few hours. I think the mayor needs to continue to to make a couple of points one. Is that both Jesse Ventura and Skip Humphrey about the past Jesse Ventura the past of government has bad retaliated against government. I'm in and Skip Humphrey the past the government always was the solution to what two different issues Norm Coleman has to make the case that he's about the future that this is a vote not about whether or not government has bad weather not government. Solve all of our problems but watching our future hold what what do we expect of of government and and then drive home the messages that he's driven home all throughout the campaign that government does have some responsibilities. There are some good rules for government, but it has to be government with limitations in the way. You limit government is you you give money back to the people of Minnesota. You give it back to the taxpayers you only tax as much as you need not as much as you're capable of of taxing and secondly we have to find Creative Solutions to the different issues that face our state it's not enough just to to rant and Rave about the failures of public education. We offer Solutions, we have to make public education better and we have to do it by giving parents more choices with how they are going to take a role in educating their own children and the resources to help educate their own children. I'm in the same with jobs that there have to be some some Creative Solutions to the economic challenges that the state faces He's going out there and living it living a very very simple message. Is it a few like me if you like what I stand for you like what you're hearing out of me. You got to vote. It's a get-out-the-vote efforts. You got to vote bring your friends finger friends friends bring your family. But if you want to shock the world and show that a third-party can exist in this country in an alternative to the way things have gone on for the past 40 years is something you'd like to see and you got to do your part which is when you have to go to the voting booth tomorrow and vote your conscience who you want as your governor who you believe in regardless of if somebody else but darn it, there's people out there that died for a country for the right to vote. It's your duty as a citizen of this country to go out and pick which one of the three you want but go out and do an I hope we have a 75% voter turnout just like skip Humphrey says cuz if we do my man Jess is going to be our next Governor. Thanks so much for coming in today. We will we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow long night possibly more coverage on Wednesday. So We're going to be here in quite a bit more from you folks looking forward to it republican-democrat part of our continuing coverage here on Minnesota Public Radio on this election Eve as we get ready for election day tomorrow polls open at 7 will be open till 8 tomorrow evening lots of coverage tomorrow night. We actually go on the air at 7 with national public radio in a look at the national elections will be on the air and until we get a decision and then we'll be back Wednesday with a whole lot more in all week long is supported by these Strictly Business High Tech Career Fair positioning it Professionals in the high-tech job market, November 11th, 1998 at the Radisson Salt Gary acting here. Thanks for tuning in. Minnesota Public Radio needs volunteers to help answer phones that are Saint Paul Studios during the upcoming pledge Drive, November 5th through the 14th. If you can spare a few hours call 651-290-1212. You're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. We have a cloudy Sky 40° at Kennedy FM 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul cloudy or partly cloudy the rest of this afternoon fairly brisk winds with a high mid to Upper forties partly cloudy skies are forecast for tonight with an overnight low right around 30 and then partly cloudy tomorrow on Election Day with a high in the low to mid-40s.