At at time when Minnesota is on the national stage, why is it no surprise that Gov. Jesse Ventura is once again hogging the spotlight for his own gain?

Ventura intentionally held a news conference Monday to coincide with a nationally televised debate between U.S. Senate candidates Norm Coleman and Walter Mondale.

Instead of letting Coleman and Mondale have their say, Ventura was perched on his familiar grandstanding post by announcing that Independence Party member and key adviser Dean Barkley would fill the remaining term left by the tragic death of Sen. Paul Wellstone.

Although some of America may have been surprised at Ventura's behavior in the past few days, his shenanigans aren't new to us.

Independence Party governor candidate Tim Penny was even peeved at his fellow party member. Penny called off a rally with Ventura that was supposed to occur just two hours after Barkley’s appointment.

"We did not need another distraction," said Penny on Ventura's poorly timed announcement.

We feel bad for Penny and Monday's latest episode was a prime example of Ventura's lack of class.

Whomever voters elect today, whether it be Penny, Republican candidate Tim Pawlenty or DFL candidate Roger Moe, this state will be on its way to recovering from its latest public relations nightmare.