In 1998, former pro wrestler Jesse “the Body” Ventura ran for governor of Minnesota, representing the Reform Party. For much of the campaign, he polled at around 10 percent. But Ventura won that election and became the hieroglyph of political unpredictability. He supported Nader and assaulted the concept of not voting for someone based on a low likelihood of success. “To me,” said Ventura, “a wasted vote is not voting your heart and conscience.” In theory, this is true. In practice, Ventura was wrong. The 2.9 million people who voted for Nader from a “heart and conscience” perspective not only
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