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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it is wonderful how many blameless people are out there. these are all human beings, nothing more. easy for obamba to say anything he wants, who really knows what was said by edwards family?
- Posted by suanIt doesn’t matter. John Edwards is just another (I can get away with it) Democratic Candidate. And Barack Obama is an empty suit.
He shall lose in November. Mark my words
- Posted by BruceNow it’s time for all good liberals to “think about the children,” specifically John Edwards’ newest baby girl…John, John!!! It’s not about you….it’s about the child! This child needs food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, a father figure (try hard on this one, John), and a moral compass (might want to pass on this one, John).
I have only two words of advice for Rielle Hunter: “Gloria Allred”. You need a shark with a heart. She will help you, just google her.
Hmmmm……so John Edwards thinks he’s off the hook!!! I’ll bet half of his interview on Nightline was a lie. You know darn well that he had sex with Rielle Hunter the last time in Beverly Hills…and, now he’s lying about holding up his new baby girl in the National Enquirer photo… On Nightline, Edwards said that he has “no idea” where the photo came from or who is in it. Is this idiot for real? This guy is just a pathological liar!!! It’s so rare to see one on tape! John Edwards doesn’t have to agree to a paternity test….the child support judge is going to demand it. Get busy!!
Now, for all you John Edwards supporters who are let down…what in the hell were you thinking? Couldn’t you spot this phony the second you saw him? I did. Edwards made his money suing doctors!!!!! He is a professional liar….just like Obama!!! You’re all smucks!!!
Obviously Obama knew about the allegations against Edwards for a long time. If Obama didn’t, then he’s a dope! So, right up until Friday, Edwards was still on the short list for VP.
Yes, this whole “affair” shows that Obama is stupid and needs vetting team (not sleaze hiders) for the VP spot! Now, let’s show that Obama knew about the affair and still wanted Edwards.
- Posted by RiverEdwards is a phony. He suddenly remind me of Republican Party . Lied / cover up and kept lying and hope everything will goes away. John , you should switch to GOP. Please
- Posted by TRANJohn Edwards can’t be at the convention….but Bill Clinton is going to make a speech!!!
ROFLMAO!
Democrats are so F-ing stupid!
- Posted by ToddonCapeCodWho cares about candidates’ or politicians’ sex lives! It’s a wonder any sane person runs for office anymore. We harp on keeping our own privacy but refuse to grant it to public figures. What hypocrites we are.
- Posted by MBI’m surprised that Obama didn’t say “He’s not the John Edwards I used to know”
- Posted by CharlieThis just proves once again that the current Democratic leadership has no soul whatsover. That inhuman condition has crept into the dying MSM.
- Posted by JoelBoth beasts will not be missed when they expire.
What John Edwards did was wrong, but at least it was adult man with adult woman. Unlike Republican sex scandals which are adult man with adult man, or adult man with little boys, or adult man with little girls.
- Posted by KKrohnWhat exactly is the code of conduct demanded in American politics if Edwards is persona non-grata but Bill Clinton, the poster boy of marital infidelity, is the key note speaker at the Democratic convention. These decisions are more transparent in their true purpose, to manage images and win at all costs. Nothing at all to do with moral character in the end.
- Posted by lsmJWF,
I know you would not be so naive regarding infidelity found only on the resume of Democrats. If we reviewed the current resume’s and past resumes of Republicans we can not only include infidelity but pedophilia, should I go on…so unless you are without sin put the rocks down before your glass house cracks.
- Posted by WillowHello! Why don’t you repubs get your facts straight for once… Obama didn’t ban Edwards from the convention, its not up to him. Obama said… “If I’m not mistaken I think that … the Edwards family indicated that they probably wouldn’t be attending the convention,” Obama told reporters.
And for MSM. I think they were just looking for a story because Edwards is out of the race and his personal life doesn’t matter to anyone except to sell news. So who is surprized at that?
- Posted by BushGuiltyAsSinOnce again the agenda of mainstream American media is exposed. And they wonder why they are despised and their viewers and readers are leaving in droves? If subjects were covered fairly and accurately instead of a constant leftward slant it would be a completely different story. But I suspect they wil continue to undermine their credibility and go on cutting their own throat.
- Posted by ScottConsidering world-class philanderer Bill Clinton will be bloviating at the convention speech-wise, what’s one more adulterer in the mix?
- Posted by clydeI figured marital infidelity was a resume enhancer among Democrats.
- Posted by JWFInteresting, in an associated press article today about the dificulty of validating the charges leading to the MSM not running the story, they fail to state that Fox News came out with a statement validating that the enquirer’s version of the beverly hill hilton events were indeed true.
- Posted by TomWe already have a serial philanderer, WJC, speaking at the Convention that lied about it…Why not have one that did not lie about his ONE affair?
- Posted by DocbOnce again, Obama is so quick to toss out anyone that will spoil his image.
- Posted by TiredCRUNCH!! CRUNCH!! That’s the sound of John Edwards under the bus wheels!! LOL!!!
- Posted by dragonfly777Edwards’ judgement was extremely poor in engaging in an affair with Hunter. His judgement again was extremely poor in lieing about it. This is what happens when people mess up, one lie leader to another and to another. At this point is hard to believe anything Edwards says. He denied the affair, he said, because the Enquirer had a lot of “falsities” and he was 99% HONEST! What kind of garbage is this?? A lie is a lie, period, there is nothing HONEST about telling a lie, Talk about spin. Elizabeth was dishonest too, if in fact she knew about the affair, by encouraging Edwards to remain in the race and campaigning for him. They are both guilty in the “cover up”. As for Hunter, obviously she was hired so she could be close to Edwards. I cannot imagine hiring an inexperienced person and paying her $114,000.00+ for the work she actually did…four videos. Pretty pricy, don’t you think? On top of that, Edward’s finance manager was giving her more money without Edward’s knowledge. Was this to keep her quiet?? Looks like Hunter was entertaining Edwards and his campaign males by providing most of them with her sexual favors; guess this explains why she got paid so much for such little actual work. Why was he even meeting with Hunter two years after the affair. Blackmail, perhaps? Had she raised the ante for more money? Was Edwards refusing? I believe she and her friend set Edwards up for the Enquirer. How else would have the Enquirer known of their meeting? Then Edwards makes it worse for himself by running away and hiding in the men’s bathroom!! All of this will make a good movie very soon! If it weren’t to disgusting, it would be funny! Both John and Elizabeth are guilty of deceiving the nation. How very, very sad!
- Posted by NinaK