Don't call him Jesse 'The Candidate' Ventura -- at least not yet

WASHINGTON -- Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura is shooting down media reports that he's decided to run for Senate.

National Public Radio on Wednesday reported that Ventura says he's running for the seat, quoting him as saying "I run" because of Senator Norm Coleman's support for the Iraq war. But Ventura tells The Associated Press he had been speaking hypothetically.

Ventura says in responding to the NPR reporter's question about why he would run, "I gave him the reasons why I would run. But I said ultimately, it will come down to whether I want to change my lifestyle and go to that lifestyle or not."

ABC News followed up with a blog item headlined, "Jesse Ventura To Run for Senate," citing the NPR report.

Ventura says bluntly that no one knows whether he will run -- not even his wife. He says the decision won't be made until next Tuesday, the filing deadline.