HONOLULU - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says his former rival John Edwards, who disclosed on Friday that he had an extramarital affair in 2006, would likely not be attending the party’s convention later this month.
Edwards, a former vice presidential candidate who bowed out of the ra
ce for the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this year, was said to be in the running for a high-level position in a potential Obama administration, including attorney general.
Probably not anymore.
The Illinois senator, when asked about Edwards, told reporters in Hawaii he thought the former North Carolina senator and his wife, Elizabeth, had already decided not to attend the Democratic convention in Denver in late August.
“If I’m not mistaken I think that … the Edwards family indicated that they probably wouldn’t be attending the convention,” Obama told reporters.
Healing, yes. But Obama no doubt also wants to avoid another distraction at an event that he hopes will emphasize his campaign message of change and party unity.
Edwards endorsed Obama in May while the primary contest against Hillary Clinton was still running. He told television network ABC on Friday that he didn’t think he had a political career in his future.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Jeff Haynes (John Edwards and Barack Obama at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 14, 2008)

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I personally believe that Hillary and Edwards wife have no self respect for staying with them. I would submit to anyone, that if Hillary had divorced Bill, she would be on the way to the White House right now, because everyone else would respect her, too.
- Posted by ObamaisgonnalosesobadJust so ironic that they aren’t going to let one adulterer attend, but they will have another give a key speech Wednesday night.
- Posted by Obamaisgonnalosesobad[...] week the Democratic convention in Denver. John Edwards won’t be there. Last month his name was still mentioned as a possible VP pick for Obama. Now he may be [...]
- Posted by Adultery, Betrayal & Confession– The ABC Exclusive | The Radio KitchenRE: Infidelity and Republicans.
Reagan (he had a couple of wives I believe).
McCain - he showed true values in the way he treated his first wife.
- Posted by An observerFiddle dee, fiddle dum. How do you know when a politican is lying….
- Posted by jmDid Obama know in advance of John Edwards’ confession/interview and planned his vacation letting Hillary go “solo” for him in Nevada and get no media attention!! Is that fair politics???
- Posted by didiOnce again the Republicans have taken the lead as “immoral heads” of our nation. McCain cheated on his wife (and quickly divorced her and married again months later), and he did it decades before Senator Edwards. Way to go “McNasty” McCain.
Learn more at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzQe8m_92 hc
- Posted by Michael J[...] Obama(PBUH) has said that John Edwards (who endorsed Obama(PBUH) and was supposed to deliver “The South” to Obama) will NOT be or speak at the Democrat National Convention in Denver. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says his former rival John Edwards, who disclosed on Friday that he had an extramarital affair in 2006, would likely not be attending the party’s convention later this month. “If I’m not mistaken I think that … the Edwards family indicated that they probably wouldn’t be attending the convention,” Obama told reporters. —-Jeff Mason, Reuters [...]
- Posted by Radio Free Canada » Blog Archive » Another One Under the Buswhat resonates for me is that Mr. Edwards says he was not unfaithful until his wife went into remission from cancer!..What earth does that mean? That its okay to be a rutting pig as long as your partner is in resonably good health.. Mr Edwards, along with so many other politicians, Democrat or Republican does not deserve to represent us. He has no sense of shame, decency or honor. And then, to thoroughly disgrace himself, has the temerity to go on national television and try to rationlize his disgusting conduct. I feel badly for his wife.. What does she do, in her situation. Leave him, or stay and see his doughy adulterous face each and every day… He is truly so low..
- Posted by saucy sea breezePoor obama he’s damn he if do and damn if he don’t
- Posted by LethaWhat a shame. A huge hope for our future and once again we are reminded that committment to anything is nearly impossible. We are a society of cheating in every way. Wow, they must laugh at us around the world.
- Posted by MaryOK! Why don’t we blame Obama for John Edward’s discretion as well as all all other things that we are displeasd with in this country, but no one seems to mention John Mccain’s cheating on his flormer wife!!! Where are your heads?
- Posted by btkFolks…your rabid speculations are not particularly what ‘God’ has in mind either. Men in politics are notorious for affairs…affairs have been going on since the beginning of time as humans. What offends me, is the quick paced attack mode of slinging mud and worse. This moralistic tone, while back stabbing and ranting these horrible judgments…check out the Bible. In some circles speaking poorly about people is considered worse than murder. In murder you only kill once, in backstabbing you kill a persons character over and over again. You will be subjected to the same judgment as you judge others…actually, according to the Bible, you have no right to judge at all. You are asked to look at yourself.
- Posted by Ancient LiteJust because we were founded by hypocritical Puritans, doesn’t mean we have to keep up the tradition. And yes, I love my country, and yes, I have the right to question.
You need to have a serious talk with God about your thoughts and behaviors.
Those that throw the stinkiest mud are usually those that are stewing in hatred all of the time. I’d rather have someone who serves the public slip up sexually, than someone who stands on their pulpit poking other peoples eyes out, and yakking up hatred.
Leave the man alone, if his wife forgives him, that is all that is necessary.
It is none of our business.
It’s interesting to me how so many people said that Bill Clinton’s lies to the nation about his affair with Monica Lewinsky were no big deal. Now everyone seems bent on making out Edwards’ to be a monster.
I was very critical of Clinton when he lied to the nation as Commander-in-Chief, especially when he lied under oath to the grand jury (if I remember right, he was stripped of his license to practice law in some jurisdiction as a result).
But I suppose Clinton had the sympathy of much of the nation because of what many decided was a witch hunt by the GOP.
It seems to me, though, that lying under oath in a court proceeding — regardless of any so-called witch hunt — is far more egregious than Edwards has done. Don’t get me wrong. I think what Edwards did was horrible.
But Clinton has much more charisma than Edwards, so I suppose that makes what Clinton did OK!
- Posted by RobInterestingly enough when its a Republican sex scandal it is more likely to be an encounter with a gay prostitute.
- Posted by NeedarealCandidateThey are all stinking lying Liberty rapers. Why should I care what functions they go to and what unity they want when my Liberties get STOLEN from me every day.
- Posted by boboSo… if the affair ended in 2006, why did Edwards visit Hunter and the baby in July 2008 ???? And… why did she have that hotel room??? She lives in the area!!! BTW… she was the registered guest at the hotel, not Edwards. It’s obvious that they were afraid to meet at her nearby home, so she got the hotel room so they could meet in the middle of the night.
- Posted by JoanWhy would John Edwards visit this gal and the baby for hours during the middle of the night in a hotel if he wasn’t the father? If he was “just a friend” visiting a friend’s baby, he (and Elizabeth) would have visited during the day (and not in a hotel).
She lives in the area. She doesn’t need a hotel. John Edwards wasn’t registered at that hotel.
- Posted by JoanJohn Edwards always talks about there being “Two Americas”.
I guess he thought that he should have a woman in each one.
- Posted by JoanI don’t think this wil have any negative effect on Obama. Edward is his own man. I feel sorry for his wife. She does’t deserve this.
- Posted by Agya Odi Asempa