John Edwards Admits Affair

The truth comes out:

John Edwards repeatedly lied during his Presidential campaign about an extra-marital affair with a novice film-maker, the former Senator admitted to ABC News today.

[snip]

Edwards also denied he was the father of Hunter’s baby girl, Frances Quinn, although the one-time Democratic Presidential candidate said he has not taken a paternity test. Edwards said he knew he was not the father based on timing of the baby’s birth on February 27, 2008. He said his affair ended too soon for him to have been the father.

[snip]

According to friends of Hunter, Edwards met her at a New York city bar in 2006. His political action committee later paid her $114,000 to produce campaign website documentaries despite her lack of experience. Edwards said the affair began during the campaign after she was hired. Hunter traveled with Edwards around the country and to Africa. Edwards said his wife, Elizabeth, and others in his family became aware of the affair in 2006.

So he denies being the father based on the timing of the affair. Even if that’s true–and frankly, it’s besides the point–his political career is finished. People who have affairs while their wives are dealing with Cancer are unlikely to be forgiven by the public.

In the context of his presidential run: Given that it was unlikely that this story wasn’t eventually going to see the light of day, you have to wonder why he decided to run for president in the first place since the affair was uncovered by his family in 2006. He didn’t declare his candidacy until December 28th of 2006, well after the time of this affair (I doubt it happened between the 28th and the 31st). That to me is the most perplexing part of this sordid story. In any case, a very sorry situation for all involved.

As to how this could affect Senator Obama, I don’t see how it does in any way. Edwards is not the VP nominee, and he isn’t going to speak at the convention. His endorsement of Obama in Michigan, while nice at the time, has been mostly forgotten. So this will be fodder for the cable talking-heads (conveniently timed as Obama will be on vacation for the next week, giving them something to chatter about), but not much else.