“It’s OK. You can say this is total b——-,” a fellow reporter counseled as we stared, rather incredulously, around Tareq Salahi’s sparsely occupied backyard.

For those who don’t know, the Secret Service’s least-favorite party guest is back in the spotlight after deciding to challenge Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who has doggedly scrutinized Salahi’s charitable works and family winery, for the keys to Virginia’s governor’s mansion.

Salahi formally launched his bid Sunday at a “Crash the Candidate’s” barbecue hosted at his home in Front Royal, Va.