Corsi, 58, is not a veteran, but he co-authored the book (that NewsMax helped to make a best seller) with John O'Neill that, along with the TV ads from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, helped expose the real John Kerry to millions of voters.

Now Corsi hopes to get some of those voters in one of the nation's most liberal states on his side.

"It may be time for a conservative movement to take hold in Massachusetts," Corsi said.

A managing partner in the U.S. Financial Marketing Group, Corsi – who earmed his Ph.D. from Harvard, a hop, skip and jump from Boston – will sell his part of the company and devote his time to a political career.

He wants to run as a Republican, but told the Boston Herald that if he doesn't get financial backing from the Grand Old Party, he'll run as an Independent.

And, he says, he'll run even if Kerry doesn't.

Corsi is a bit of a controversial figure, even without his Kerry book. He has posted comments on the FreeRepublic Web site in which he reportedly called Islam "a cancer that destroys the body it infects" and called the pope "senile," all of which he claims were intended to be satirical.

Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party Phil Johnston was not amused, or enthused. "I know Massachusetts will not welcome a candidate whose calling card is a disturbing track record of slandering Catholics, the pope, Jews and Vietnam veterans. Carpetbaggers spreading lies and smears are not welcome in our state," he told the Herald.

Kerry's representatives had no comment, saying Kerry was too busy with his work in the Senate ... which we can understand. He must have a lot to catch up on, since he essentially took the last two years off to run for president.

Editor's note: