Report: Brad Hanson Had Affair with Sarah Palin

Is Brad Hanson the male Rielle Hunter?

It's too early to tell, but the National Enquirer was right the last time - and now they're finally publishing the name of the man they believe had an intimate affair with Alaska Governor and Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

At long last revealing their source (Palin “family insider” Jim Burdett) and claiming he went through a “vigorous polygraph test,” the celeb news tabloid is alleging that Palin had an extramarital affair around 1996 with Brad Hanson.

"I’ve known about Brad having had an affair for a long time, but it wasn’t until recently that I learned his affair was with Sarah Palin," Burdett said, noting that Brad Hanson previously owned a snowmobile dealership with Sarah's husband, Todd Palin.

"Sarah Palin was elected mayor of Wasilla, Brad became a city council member in the nearby town of Palmer, and they started an affair. Todd found out about the affair and was so mad he broke up their partnership at the snowmobile dealership."

The Enquirer also has an affidavit from a source claiming: “Todd was away on business a lot and Sarah felt lonely. Brad was a good listener, and Sarah talked to him at length."

"Eventually, she real­ized she was falling in love with him. When Todd got back from one of his trips, Sarah told him that she had begun to have feelings for Brad.”

Attention previously surrounded Scott Richter, who was first thought to be Sarah Palin's male mistress, had his divorce papers sealed. It turned out Richter just ... wanted to keep his personal files private. Who'd have guessed?

The publication of Brad Hanson's name and the supposed origins of his affair with Palin follows much speculation - and threats of legal action from the John McCain campaign if the story was published. Will it hurt the McCain-Palin ticket?