CANDIDATE DEFENDS PROSTITUTION VIEWS

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA -- Gubernatorial candidate Jesse Ventura said Thursday
that his musings about legalizing prostitution show he has "the courage to
admit" that the present system doesn't work.

A day earlier, the Reform Party candidate said Minnesota should consider
controlling prostitution by legalizing it, perhaps in certain areas, as
Amsterdam does with its red-light district.

On Thursday, the former professional wrestler said he would "absolutely
not" support legalization but reiterated that Minnesota should consider new
ways to solve prostitution and drug use.

"We should learn from history. Prohibition was a failure," Ventura said.
"I'm the only gubernatorial candidate with the courage to admit that our
wars against drugs and prostitution have failed."

Both of Ventura's opponents, Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Hubert
Humphrey III, have criticized his prostitution comments.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski