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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2002

Outgoing Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura (I) on Monday appointed an Independent to the Senate seat vacated by the late Paul Wellstone (D).

Dean Barkley will take over immediately when the Senate reconvenes next week. But it was unclear how long he would stay due to tomorrow's election and chamber rules. He did not say whether he will organize with the Republicans or Democrats.

Wellstone's replacement in the race, former vice president Walter Mondale, debated Republican opponent Norm Coleman for the first time on public television yesterday. The pair are in a statistical dead heat, according to recent polls.

Get the Story:
Ventura names Barkley to Senate seat (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 11/5)
Coleman-Mondale debate: 11th-hour faceoff (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 11/5)
Debate and Interim Pick for Senate in Minn. (The Washington Post 11/5)
Ventura Choice Adds to Senate Uncertainty (The Washington Post 11/5)
For Minnesota, a Late Debate in Altered Race (The New York Times 11/5)

Related Stories:
Mondale enters U.S. Senate race (10/31)
Thousands remember Sen. Wellstone (10/30)
Yellow Bird: Wellstone will be missed (10/29)
Mondale pitched for Senate seat (10/28)
Senator Paul Wellstone: 1944-2002 (10/26)