Presidential hopeful Pat Buchanan, known for his conservative views, soon may have something in common with Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura.

Buchanan, who is running for president for the third time, is expected to make an announcement on Oct. 15 about whether he will join the Reform Party, the political organization started several years ago by H. Ross Perot.

The Buchanan Brigade has lost staff members because of the proposed move to the Reform Party. Buchanan’s communication director Bob Adams quit last week, and Scott Bell, Buchanan’s South Carolina field director, left to endorse Republican Steve Forbes.

Charlie Major, state secretary for the Reform Party, has mixed feelings about Buchanan’s possible switch.

“Well, it’s energized some people,” he said. “It’s good that the Reform Party gets mentioned, but I have problems with Buchanan’s stance on particular issues.”

Major said he agrees with Buchanan’s economic ideas but not with his positions on social matters, such as abortion and immigration. In the past, Buchanan has been known to take hard stances against these issues.

If he moves to the Reform Party, Buchanan would be up against four other candidates: air force pilot and minister Robert Bowman, contractor Charles Collins, entrepreneur Jerry Beck and real estate agent Harvey Carroll.

Staying with the Republican Party would put Buchanan up against eight candidates seeking the nomination.

“I think it’s looking more and more like he’s going to leave [the Republican Party],” Major said.

Ann Dougherty, communications director for the Iowa GOP, said she wants Buchanan to stick with the Republican Party.

“We obviously want him to remain a Republican,” she said. “He’s been a life-long Republican, and it would be too bad to see him go.”

Dougherty said it remains to be seen whether Buchanan supporters will follow him across party lines or remain loyal to the GOP.

“Maybe his followers would support him no matter what party he is in,” she said. “We’re going to stick behind whoever the Republican nominee is.”

As for the Reform Party’s growing popularity, Major said he feels it’s because of Ventura’s surprise election win last year.

“[The Reform Party] is definitely changing and for people who are disgruntled, it is definitely an option,” he said.