Ventura promotes Minnesota in Germany

BERLIN (AP) -- Gov. Jesse Ventura promoted Minnesota as a must-go place for American Indian sites, public golf courses and the Mall of America during his trip to the world's largest tourism show.

"Real America is between the coasts," he told assembled tour operators at Germany's capital. "You have to let people know Minnesota is a great place to spend your tourism dollars."

Ventura cited the state's 450 public golf courses and called Lake Superior's shoreline, "one of the great sights in the world."

"Besides," Ventura said, cracking a wink at the crowd, "don't you want to see the people who elected me? and who may again, who knows?"

Looking at reporters, he added, "by the way, for the press, that's not an announcement."

Tourism brochures that featured Ventura with his arms outstretched as the "T" in Minnesota were something of a novelty at Sunday's gathering. Travel industry representatives lined up to get autographs on Jesse Ventura dolls, books, copies of a "New Yorker" cartoon and other Jessebilia.

The only other governor to attend the international trade show was Alaska's Tony Knowles.

Shortly after Ventura arrived in Berlin, he visited a small contingent of Marines who guard the American Embassy.

"Thank you for going to see our Marines," Ambassador Daniel Coats told Ventura. "They'll be talking about that forever."

Sgt. Heather Rock of Lake Crystal, Minn., who has been stationed in Berlin for eight months, said she was told Ventura might stop by but was surprised to see him.

"I really appreciated that," she said. "A lot of people get busy and never make it out here. It's really great that he took the time out to see us."

Ventura was scheduled to return to Minnesota on Tuesday.