[Kyra Phillips, Cnn Anchor:] One of the color commentators for the XFL is Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura. And according to a new poll, it's not going over too well with folks who live in Minnesota. We head to Minneapolis now to hear more about the survey from Jim Ragsdale, a political reporter with the "St. Paul Pioneer Press." That paper has angered Ventura with it's new comic strip, "Ventura Land." Good to see you, Jim.
[Jim Ragsdale, "st. Paul Pioneer Press":] Nice to see you.
[Phillips:] All right, so what do you think? Do you think that Ventura is a good commentator?
[Ragsdale:] Do I think he's a good commentator? Well, you're the broadcast experts, what do you think.
[Phillips:] Oh, gosh. I have to remain nonpartisan. Come on, Jim.
[Ragsdale:] So do
[I. Phillips:] All right, well, let's talk about the article that you wrote and some of the shots that were taken at Ventura. Why are Minnesotans embarrassed about this?
[Ragsdale:] Well, the polls showed two things, sort of like the way Clinton's number were. On one had, people were generally satisfied with the job he was doing as governor. Those numbers haven't really dipped at all. On the other hand, they were pretty they are questioning why he is doing this XFL thing. And those numbers are pretty high.
[Phillips:] Do you think this is going to affect his credibility as governor?
[Ragsdale:] Yes, I do think so. I think, nationally, it will affect his credibility and make it harder for him to be taken seriously as a national political figure. But, you know, that time will only tell that. That could change over a period of years.
[Phillips:] But he's always sort of been known as a rebel and kind of going against the tide. So you would think this is pretty much common character for him?
[Ragsdale:] Well, that's true. I guess, you know, if he were doing something that were politically rebellious, that would be one thing. But he's basically, you know, making a lot of money doing some broadcasting when a lot of people in Minnesota feel he should be here doing his job.
[Phillips:] Well, there's been a lot of criticism that the XFL is sort of trashy, I guess you could say. Now, the governor pretty much stayed focused on the game, right? He didn't really go off on the cheerleaders or any of that kind of stuff.
[Ragsdale:] Yes, after two games he has stayed focused on "X"s and "O"s.
[Phillips:] Now, Jim, do we have any idea how much money he's making doing this?
[Ragsdale:] No, he will not tell us. People have made estimates, but no one really knows, and there is no law in Minnesota requiring that he disclose. So unless he chooses, has a change of heart there are bills in legislature to require him to disclose, but those probably will not get very far.
[Phillips:] Could this become an ethical issue, you think?
[Ragsdale:] Well, it already has. There are people who say that he has used the office to enrich himself in kind of a different way than you might have expected in the past. I mean, he's not acting asking road contractors to give him money, he is essentially becoming a bigger celebrity by virtue of his political fame and sort of cashing in on that. And he says it's simply his right as an American citizen to do what he wants to on his own time.
[Phillips:] Jim Ragsdale, "St. Paul Pioneer Press," who did the story about the poll, thanks for joining us and talking a little trash with us.
[Ragsdale:] No trash here.
[Phillips:] All right.