A Gore Running Mate With a Feather Boa?

In many ways, the two politicians couldn’t be more different:

Vice President Al Gore, Democratic Party stalwart, cautiously weighs each word before speaking. Jesse Ventura, the independent-minded governor of Minnesota and former professional wrestler, is known for blurting things out, like the time he said religion was “a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people.”

Yet Gore’s swing through the Minneapolis-St. Paul area this week showcased the rapport that has developed between the son of a senator and the son of a municipal worker, a relationship they both insist is more about friendship than political alliance.

On Wednesday night, the Gores accompanied the governor and his wife, Terry, to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, where Ventura’s 16-year-old daughter competed in an equestrian show. Later, the two men stayed up past midnight at the governor’s mansion, talking about their families, military stints in Vietnam and Mad Dog, Ventura’s most formidable wrestling opponent--discussing just about everything, they said, but politics.

This was the third visit in the last few months between the two leaders, who heartily laugh and tease each other in public. During one Thursday interview, they chuckled when the governor, who was elected as a Reform Party candidate, scolded the longtime Democrat for using the term “bipartisan,” saying it should be “tripartisan.” Later, Gore jokingly told a reporter he was trying to teach Ventura to “loosen up a little bit” and not be “so stiff and formal.”

Getting the backing of Ventura would help Gore shore up support among third-party voters, as well as residents in this key Midwestern state. But both men brushed off questions about whether the popular governor, formerly known as “The Body,” would endorse Gore.

“I think the vice president looks at me more as a break, getting away from the rigors of the campaign trail,” Ventura told NBC-TV’s “Today” show.

Ventura said he’d “betray” the third party movement if he endorsed Gore but said he would be open to backing policy proposals.

Gore added, with a grin: “I’m not working on his endorsement. I’m working on his vote.”

The two men first got to know each other during a breakfast meeting in March, when Gore campaigned in Minnesota during the Democratic primaries. Aides said they knew the hour-plus meeting went well when they heard booming laughter floating out from behind closed doors. Later, Gore and Ventura compared cowboy boots.

Recently, Ventura and his wife visited the Gores at the vice president’s residence in Washington, spending a long night talking and touring the grounds.

Wednesday night, Gore and his wife, Tipper, joined the Venturas at the 46th annual Tanbark Cavalcade of Roses Horse Show, where Ventura’s daughter Jade was competing on her horse Jardiniere.

The cavernous stadium at the state fairgrounds was practically empty, with just about 100 people sprinkled throughout the musty stands, applauding politely as the girls led their prancing horses around the dirt arena.

But the two couples sat in the practically empty bleachers for at least an hour, intently watching the nervous teenagers canter around the ring and then rising to their feet in applause at the end.

The next day, both men were decked in polo shirts--Ventura in beige, Gore in blue--as they visited Hopkins North Junior High School. Ventura watched as Gore promised to increase federal funding for special education from $720 million a year to $1.5 billion during his first year in office. The money would help states pay for classes and identify children with learning disabilities in kindergarten and first grade, as well as support teacher training, he said.

Gore said the federal government should live up to a pledge made in 1975 to pay 40% of the costs states bear for special education. Currently, the government only pays up to 13% of those costs.

Ventura, whose daughter has a learning disability and attends special education classes, said he backed Gore’s proposal 100%.

But it was evident that it’s also a bit of a risk for Gore to pair up with the former Navy SEAL and Rolling Stones bodyguard, who refuses to toe party lines.

After Gore, in an interview, endorsed a hate crime bill, Ventura said he disagreed that there should be heavier penalties for acts of prejudice. “A crime is a crime,” he said, as Gore looked on, clearly surprised. “I don’t particularly care what someone’s motive is.”

But throughout the day, as they watched students shoot homemade rockets into the sky, the two men appeared to be enjoying themselves.

At one point, Gore joked with an MTV interviewer that he needs “a live-action Al Gore figure” to boost his popularity--a reference to a memorable Ventura ad that featured an action figure. Then he brought up a prop Ventura used in his wrestling days: “I’m even thinking about a feather boa.”

Later, during an afternoon news conference, Gore grabbed a CBS producer’s ringing cell phone. “No, it’s OK, we’re in the middle of a press conference here,” he said as the reporters roared with laughter. “Do you have a question for Gov. Jesse Ventura?” He passed it on to Ventura. Then another phone rang.

“Hello, Gore news conference, may I help you?” the vice president asked, taking the phone from an embarrassed CNN producer.

Meanwhile, Ventura barked into the phone: “What am I doing spending the day with him? He’s the vice president of the United States!”