Ventura says Nov. 5 results will probably be challenged

Knight Ridder Newspapers

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura said he fears the results of the Nov. 5 general election for his state's U.S. Senate seat will be challenged in court and questioned the fairness of how absentee ballots already cast for the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone will be treated.

For that reason, Ventura said he is reserving the right to make an interim appointment to ensure Minnesota will have two votes in a lame-duck Senate session and during any court challenges to the election.

"I fully somewhat expect there will be litigation," Ventura said in an interview Monday morning. "I can't see a way around this. And I think it's going to come in the form of how the election is held."

State officials said Wellstone's death in a plane crash on Friday precludes absentee ballots marked for Wellstone from being counted. They have said absentee ballots marked for Coleman, however, will be counted.

"That to me right there creates an unfair election,"Ventura said.