Former Delahunt challenger looks to take on Kerry

Republican Jeff Beatty will announce Thursday evening that he is forming an exploratory committee to challenge Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2008.

Beatty, a former Army Delta Force officer who has also worked at the FBI and CIA, ran against Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) last year, taking just less than 30 percent of the vote.

{mosads}He is currently the president and founder of TotalSecurity.US, which trains emergency managers and law enforcement personnel.

Against Delahunt, Beatty raised less than $50,000 and loaned his campaign almost $50,000 toward the end. He failed to file a year-end financial report, according to FEC records.

Beatty will make the announcement at 6:45 p.m. in Bourne, Mass.