EARBORN, Mich. - Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura said in an interview published yesterday that he could be elected president of the United States in 2000, but is not interested in the job.
''I have no desire to be a national politician,'' Ventura told the Detroit Free Press.
Ventura's comments came as his Reform Party of the United States opened what may be a pivotal weekend convention here. The three-day event may help demonstrate the strength of Ventura, a former professional wrestler, in the party built by Texas billionaire Ross Perot four years ago.
Ventura was to address convention-goers last night. But early-evening thunderstorms in Michigan were blamed for keeping him in a grounded commercial plane in Minnesota.
The governor contends that the Reform Party itself needs to be reformed and made more democratic. He also has said someone other than Perot, a two-time loser in presidential races, should be its 2000 presidential nominee.
In the interview with the Free Press, Ventura said he likes Texas Governor George W. Bush, the front-runner for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, and Vice President Al Gore, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination.
But Ventura was quoted as saying that ''by the time they get to this time next year, we are going to be so sick of these people that a third-party candidate can win the whole thing.''
Ventura brushed off recent polls showing little public interest in seeing a third-party presidential candidate.
''I could win the presidency,'' he said.
Ventura has said he is not interested in running for president next year, but would consider seeking the vice presidency if retired General Colin Powell was the Reform Party's presidential candidate.
Powell has told Ventura he is not interested, aides to the Minnesota governor said. Ventura now is urging Lowell Weicker, a former Republican US senator and Independent Connecticut governor, to be the Reform Party's 2000 standard bearer.
Others mentioned as possible candidates for the party's nomination include Republican presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan and New York entrepreneur Donald Trump. The party is due to pick its presidential nominee next year.
