Independence Party Gov. Hopeful Won't Get Public Subsidy

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Independence Party governor candidate Hannah Nicollet has failed to qualify for a public campaign subsidy in the Minnesota race.

That means the eventual Democratic and Republican nominees are in line for even bigger public checks and she will miss out on more than $219,000 to spread her message. The IP has been a powerful force in past governor's races, often snagging more than the vote difference between the top two candidates.

Nicollet told The Associated Press on Thursday that she fell short of the donations needed to unlock the public subsidy.

The IP has been a major party for almost two decades, although it was known as the Reform Party when Jesse Ventura rode the ballot line to the governor's office in 1998.

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