Anthony Weiner, who was forced to resign from Congress for sending racy pictures over Twitter, is mulling a run for Mayor next year, according to the New York Post:

Anthony Weiner's not shrinking from elected office.

The disgraced former congressman - who's sitting on a $4.5 million campaign war chest - is mulling a bid for citywide office next year and "seriously considering" a mayoral run, multiple sources told The Post.

The cocky pol is also open to the post of public advocate as a backup plan, said sources, who described the Queens Democrat as "desperate" to get back into politics.

Weiner, 47, has even spoken to former staffers about going back to work for him, according to another source.

nd he wants to run soon because the public match on his campaign funds are due to expire after the 2013 election.

"I've heard he is seriously thinking about getting into a citywide race in 2013 and would like it to be mayor," said a source with ties to Weiner. "In his mind, he's trying to figure out how to run for mayor."

He's reached out to politicos to "talk about the landscape," said a former staffer.

The buzz in political circles is that the sext-happy Weiner has a better shot at public advocate - a $165,000-a-year job viewed as a "cleansing" post where he could put his character issues further behind him as he prepped for a 2017 mayoral run.

"The general feeling is that you can't text pictures of your penis to a girl, then lie about it, then get kicked out of the House and then run for mayor right after," said a political consultant. "But people believe there is a way for him to run for a lesser office."

Americans love second acts in politics. But would they forgive a low life sleaze like Weiner?

Many wouldn't, that's for sure. That's why Weiner is looking at the office of Public Advocate, which has a lower profile and would be perfect for a far left liberal like Weiner.It would be a far easier race too, considering that the announced candidates don't have half the name recognition that the voluble Weiner can claim.

Prior to the scandal, Weiner was seen as a rising Democratic star in New York and it was assumed he would run for mayor -- if not in 2013 then at some point in the future. That may not happen this time. But it's clear that New Yorkers - and America - has not heard the last of him.