By Associated Press, 10/30/02

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, upset by what he felt was a partisan tone of a memorial service to honor the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, said he will try to appoint an independent instead of a Democrat to temporarily fill Wellstone's seat.

Ventura had said he favored a replacement from Wellstone's party, but that was before he walked out of Tuesday night's memorial service.

Ventura referred to a speech by one of Wellstone's closest friends, Rick Kahn, in which Kahn said to the crowd, "I'm begging you to help us win this Senate election for Paul Wellstone."

"I wanted to hear the sons. But Rick Kahn's, I found his so offensive to me as an Independent, or to anyone who is not necessarily going to vote for Senator Wellstone who still respects him and came to pay their respects," Ventura said. "It drove the first lady to tears."

"I will try to find an independent," Ventura said Wednesday on a talk radio show, though he did not say who he might name.

Ventura later backed off his statements somewhat, saying: "I haven't ruled anything out." Among the options, he said, is to appoint "a regular citizen" with no connection to politics.

The appointee would only serve for a few weeks. Wellstone was up for re-election, and former Vice President Walter Mondale said Wednesday he would run in Wellstone's place against Republican Norm Coleman.