JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura is a man without a party today. The highest-ranking elected member of the Reform Party is leaving it. CNN's Tony Clark is in St. Paul -- Tony.</s>TONY CLARK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jeanne, what we expect a short while from now is for Governor Ventura to come out in front of the governor's mansion here in St. Paul, and announce that he wants the state's Reform Party, Minnesota's Reform Party, to break away from the national Reform Party, just the latest split at what has been months of controversy. Governor Ventura is, as you say, the highest-ranking, highest- elected official that is a member of the Reform Party. When he was elected governor of Minnesota, it was thought that he would bring new life to the Reform Party after Ross Perot's crushing defeat in his presidential race. But instead of seeing a new leader emerge for the party, what we have seen over the past few months is a division in the party between those who support Governor Ventura and those who support Ross Perot. They disagree over who the presidential nominee should be, even disagree over whether the presidential nominating convention should be held in California or Minnesota. All of this is likely to have an affect on the presidential race. Donald Trump is set to announce later this month whether he would run for the presidential nomination. He is being backed by Ventura. If Ventura does what is expected and pulls out, then we expect that to have an effect on Trump's decision. It also may clear the way for Pat Buchanan. Right now, the Reform Party is only on the presidential ballot in 21 states across the country. Pat Buchanan is going around the country trying to generate interest in his campaign, trying to get on the ballot in the other 29. So we will see what affect all of this has on the presidential race. Ross Perot, though, meanwhile, has remained quite. Tony Clark, CNN, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Ventura to Quit Reform Party