The Republican candidate, Norm Coleman, had been a Democrat until shortly before the campaign and GOPers weren't sure about his bona fides.
Jesse started talking like a conservative, lashing out at the gold plated state government employees payroll and benefits, etc.
Added to this was an unusually large turnout. Blue collar types who had rarely voted in past elections turned out in droves and they bought Jesse's “pissed off at everybody in authority” message.
Then, about six months after he took office, a switch in Jesse's brain went haywire. He came out in favor of the stupid light rail project, among other financial fiascoes.
The zinger came in an interview with a Star Tribune reporter where Jesse threatened to kill the reporter. Even his most ardent supporters had to admit he was nuts.
Hilarious radio parodies of Ventura:
http://www.radiotapes.com/KQRS/KQRS-FM_Jesse_X-Mas_Carol.mp3
http://www.radiotapes.com/KQRS/KQRS-FM_Jesse_Mission_Accomplished.mp3
http://www.radiotapes.com/KQRS/KQRS-FM_Jesse_At%20Harvard.mp3
http://www.radiotapes.com/KQRS/KQRS-FM_Jesse_Defends_Tyrell.mp3
I remember.
Recall, also, his deer-in-the-headlights look when it was apparent he had won? Nobody was more surprised (especially since he probably ran as a publicity stunt for his ailing radio career and nobody else wanted the dummy) and I think he never expected the win in a million years. All of a sudden, he was in charge like the bully given the deed to the china shop.
Still, he did a couple things that no other pol has had the guts to do - he lowered auto licensing to a new, low, equal level (so his kids Porsche didn’t cost so much) and, secondly, he had the stones to return over-collected taxes to the rightful owners rather than blowing it (illegally) as a surplus.
Nonetheless, everything else he did was to enrich himself and outside the duties of the office (TV, doll, books, etc.). Lastly, he pissed on Minnesota CC reform people by granting himself a carry permit and nobody else. Nice guy.
I would’ve loved to have seen Chris Kyle clock that nitwit.