Jesse Ventura says 'unequivocally' he will not run for president

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, who had earlier speculated that he might run for president of the United States this year, has posted a memo on his website stating that he "unequivocally" will not run.

Ventura, 64, who served one term as governor from 1999 to 2003, wrote, "I would love to run against Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

"I'd love to debate them, but, just in case I would win, I don't want to do the job. And if you don't want to do the job, you have no business running for president. That's how I feel."

Ventura, a former professional wrestler whose upset victory in 1998 stunned both the state and nation, told the Star Tribune last August that he was mulling the possibility of seeking the endorsement of the Libertarian Party.

On Sunday, delegates to the Libertarian convention in Orlando chose Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor, as their presidential candidate. Johnson, who was a Republican, selected as his running mate William Weld, the former Massachusetts governor, also a former Republican.

Ventura wrote in a statement dated Thursday, just before the Libertarians convened, that he was announcing he would not run because people have continued to ask him about a candidacy.

"I will most probably give my support to Gov. Gary Johnson if he secures the Libertarian nomination," Ventura wrote.

"I do think this is the year of opportunity. This is the year where these two parties could lose because both of their candidates are polling so negatively. There's still a chance the Democrats and Republicans will get beat."

Ventura posted the remarks on his website, "Off the Grid," where he runs his weekly program on which he expounds on current events and conducts interviews.

Randy Furst • 612-673-4224

Twitter: @randyfurst