A poll released Monday by the Minneapolis Star Tribune showed that, for the first time, a majority of female Minnesota residents don't approve of the job that Ventura is doing as governor.

Kate B. Clancy, who is co-chair of the Radcliffe Union of Students, said Ventura's latest comments "sound like he's intentionally alienating a lot of people."

Although Clancy said she's curious about the Ventura phenomenon, she has no plans to try and see him.

"I don't respect him that much," she said.

Still, a near-record number of Harvard students applied for the 800 spots to hear Ventura speak. Because of the unique nature of a live television broadcast, audience members need to arrive at the forum by 7:10 p.m. for the 8 p.m. event.

The governor's visit, according to Kennedy School spokesperson Adrianne Kaufmann, has attracted near-unprecedented media interest with television crews from CNN and ABC News joining print reporters from across the country to cover the event.

As the Reform Party's only elected official, Ventura carries a great deal of influence in forming the nascent party's national image.

Credible candidates for the party's presidential nomination--including Patrick J. Buchanan and Donald J. Trump--will likely seek Ventura's blessing when and if they decide to run.