With Ventura out, Barkley set to run

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura (I) might not be running for the Senate, but it looks like voters will have a reputable third option.

Ventura’s former campaign manager, Dean Barkley, told The Hill Tuesday that he was planning to file for Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R-Minn.) seat by the 5 p.m. deadline.

{mosads}Barkley had initially said he would run if Ventura didn’t, but then backed away from the promise, citing job obligations.

After Ventura said Monday that he would not file by the deadline, barring an act of God, Barkley once again said he was prepared to run.

Barkley actually held Coleman’s seat briefly, beginning in 2002, when Ventura appointed him to replace the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.). Wellstone died in a plane crash, and Coleman was elected soon after.

Barkley stated that his situation changed Wednesday when he parted ways with a Minneapolis bus company.

“It just was not working,” Barkley noted, adding that it had no connection to his desire to run for Senate.

He said he would file at about 3:30 p.m. central time, as long as Ventura didn’t change his mind.

Barkley has run for Senate before, taking 5 percent and 7 percent in a pair of mid-1990s campaigns.

He will file as a member of the Independence Party.

The Democrat in the race, comedian Al Franken, was also set to get a primary challenger in attorney Priscilla Lord Faris, who announced Monday that she would run.