A former presidential candidate who was involved in a sex scandal during the 1988 campaign will visit campus Wednesday to speak on changes in government and campaign finance.

Gary Hart will present “Political Corruption and Campaign Finance,” and test the waters of public opinion about another possible run for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Hart, a former Colorado senator, said he will decide whether to run for the nomination in March, after delivering speeches around the country.

He will speak Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

Robert Lowry, associate professor of political science, said he believes what drew Hart to Iowa State was a potentially large crowd.

Hart campaigned for the presidency in 1984 and 1988. He was associated with a large scandal in 1988, causing him to drop out, re-enter and drop out again in the election, Lowry said.

“There were rumors about him womanizing and he dared the press to follow him, and lo and behold they found him on his boat with Donna Rice, who is a model,” he said.

Lowry said while the scandal was huge at the time, he doesn’t think it will affect this year’s election because it was so long ago.

Hart may have a chance at nomination if no other candidates dominate the race for presidency early on in the running, Lowry said. “He’s probably something of an outsider and no one else would have to take hold in order for him to get the nomination,” he said.

George Appleby, a Des Moines lawyer and long-time friend of Hart’s, said he has known Hart through all of his campaigns and he will be accompanying Hart to campus. Appleby said he worked in both of Hart’s campaigns for the presidency.

He also said Hart has made no definite decisions about running for the presidency at this time. “I’m sure he doesn’t have any campaign workers, he’s just doing this on his own,” Appleby said.

Lowry said he believes Hart’s decision to run will largely depend on excursions like the one to Iowa State, and the reaction Hart gets.

— CNN contributed to this story