Anti-Kerry author eyes Bay State Senate run

Poetic justice?

Anti-Kerry author eyes Bay State Senate run


WASHINGTON - The co-author of the Swift Boat veterans' book that attacked Sen. John F. Kerry [related, bio] plans to move to the Bay State this year so he can challenge Kerry for his Senate seat in 2008.

     ``I'm going to do it,'' said Jerome Corsi, 58. ``I've got serious political aspirations now.''

     Corsi, who has had to apologize for inflammatory comments he made about Islam, the pope and Judaism, lives in New Jersey but plans to establish residency in Boston this spring.

     Though not a veteran himself, Corsi co-authored ``Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry [related, bio].''

     Currently a U.S. Financial Marketing Group managing partner, Corsi plans to sell his interest in the company and enter politics.

     Corsi, who earned a PhD in political science from Harvard University in 1972, also has a book coming out in April called ``Atomic Iran.'' He said his ``strong first choice'' is to run as a Republican, but without GOP party backing he would run as an independent.

     He plans to run even if Kerry does not. ``It may be time for a conservative movement to take hold in Massachusetts,'' Corsi said.

      Kerry spokesman David Wade declined comment on Corsi, saying Kerry is focused on his Senate work. But state Democratic chairman Phil Johnston said, ``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.''

     Johnston was referring to comments Corsi posted in the past few years on FreeRepublic.com. In the posts, Corsi called Islam ``a cancer that destroys the body it infects,'' called the pope ``senile,'' and referred to Kerry as ``John (expletive) Commie Kerry.''

     Corsi said the comments ``were not meant as serious expressions of my views and opinions,'' but ``meant to be satirical and provocative . . . It's like saying Shakespeare is responsible for something one of his characters said.''