Ventura run hurts both Dems and GOP

MINNEAPOLIS, June 17 (UPI) -- Poll results suggest former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura would hurt both Sen. Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken if Ventura were to enter the Senate race.

A Survey USA poll of 700 Minnesota adults taken last week showed Republican Coleman winning a three-way race with 41 percent support over Democrat Franken's 31 percent and 23 percent for Ventura, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Tuesday.

Without Ventura's entry into the race, 52 percent of poll respondents said they would support Coleman while 40 percent said they would be for Franken. The margin of error in the poll was 4 percentage points.

Ventura, known as "The Body" during his professional wrestling career, has said he is considering running for the Senate seat as an independent. The deadline for filing is in mid-July.