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Capitol View®
Tom Scheck

Jesse Ventura backs Bernie Sanders for president

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Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura visits the Minnesota Public Radio News studio to talk about his new book, "Democrips and Rebloodlicans," Wednesday, June 13, 2012. Ventura says the word "party" is not an accurate way to describe the Democrats and Republicans. Rather, he compares the two groups to street gangs.

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura says he’s backing  Sen. Bernie Sanders in his bid for president. In a blog post on his independent media site, Ventura praised Sanders for challenging Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination.

“I think what Bernie Sanders is doing is extremely healthy,” Ventura wrote. “I love the idea of somebody throwing a fly in the ointment.”

This isn't the first time Ventura backed a presidential candidate looking to shake up the system. In 2008 and 2012, Ventura backed Republican Ron Paul for president.

In 2004, Ventura backed Democrat John Kerry against Republican President George W. Bush.

Ventura, who has been a frequent critic of the two party system, also praised Sanders for deciding to run as a Democrat in order to get attention. Sanders, who serves as an independent in the U.S. Senate, said he’s running as a Democrat partly because getting on the ballot as an independent in all 50 states is difficult.

“Hats off to Bernie Sanders. I’ll help him anyway I can, although I’m not quite as socialistic,” Ventura wrote. “Bernie believes in power to the people and the people controlling the government, and I believe in that also. So I hope Bernie’s successful, and I wish him well the whole way.”

Over the years, Ventura has also worked to drum up attention by suggesting that he could run for the White House. And Jesse being Jesse, he hinted he's willing if Sanders doesn’t win the nomination.

“And if Bernie fails, maybe next year Jesse Ventura will pick up the gauntlet.”