Amid a controversy over statements he made about organized religion and about women in this month's issue of Playboy magazine, Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura continues his cross-county public relations swing with a lengthy visit to Harvard today.

At 8 p.m., Ventura will appear as the featured guest on the CNBC program "Hardball with Chris Matthews," which will broadcast live from the ARCO Forum at the Kennedy School of Government.

Ventura, a Navy Seal-turned wrestler-turned commentator-turned actor-turned politician--won an astonishing electoral victory in 1998 as the Reform Party's nominee.

And in his first year in office, Ventura has focused on tax reform and cutting the state's bureaucracy.

But it is his "plain talk and honesty"--and his unique role on the national political stage--that have brought him the most attention.

Ventura comes to Harvard just as his approval rating among Minnesota residents has fallen to 54 percent from a July high of 73 percent.

Pundits attribute the drop in popularity to a growing weariness among Minnesotans toward some of Ventura's more colorful comments--much like those that appear in his recent Playboy interview.

Responding to the magazine's question about regulating prostitution, Ventura lashed out against organized religion.