Coming soon to a mailbox near you - creeps in full bloom.

For if it is South Carolina primary season, that means the full flower of redneck, yahoo bizarro galoots cannot be far behind.

This didn’t take long did it? And sadly, it is hardly a surprise as this weekend’s South Carolina nears, with Florida soon to to follow, the forces of lying, cowardly disinformation would be spewing their political dirty tricks.

Eight years ago, Republican Sen. John McCain was the victim of a vicious race-baiting, fear-mongeroing campaign in the run-up to the South Carolina presidential primary.

Supporters of then Texas Gov. George W. Bush, labeled McCain the “##### candidate,” with veiled hints the Arizona senator was gay. Rumors were spread McCain was mentally unstable after his more than five years as a POW during the Vietnam War.

As well, a whispering campaign accused McCain of fathering black child, when in fact McCain and his wife Cindy had adopted a Bangladeshi daughter. Ironically it was none other than South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond who actually had fathered a black child.

Bush went on to win the South Carolina primary and the presidency, leaving a seething McCain to spend the next eight years preparing for another run for the White House.

Now the yahoos are at it again in 2008.

A phony group called the Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain is circulating a mailer throughout South Carolina accusing the candidate of turning on his fellow prisoners of war in order to receive better treatment for himself from his Vietnamese captors. This is beyond reprehensible.

It’s a lie and the low-lifes perpetuating this lie are sniveling, duplicitous goobers.

By any measure John McCain is a genuine American hero, whose conduct while a POW has been lauded for his bravery by any number of his fellow prisoners.

McCain never asked for, nor received special treatment at the hands of his captors and indeed refused early release from captivity ahead of those who had been imprisoned longer than he.

If you don’t believe John McCain would be a good president, fine. If you think he is wrong on the issues, no problem.

But no voter in South Carolina, or Florida or any other state should deny McCain their vote on the basis of this effort to undermine the senator’s personal integrity and extraordinary bravery.

The chintzy blowhards behind the Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain unfortunately are right about one thing.

It is the dark underbelly of American politics that some people, some voters, are unbelievably stupid and easily manipulated. See: South Carolina, 2000.

It is altogether possible the dolts attempting to smear McCain will bring their disinformation campaign to Florida.

Better plan on having to delouse the mailbox. It’s going to be a bumpy primary.