Emerging Edwards Scandal?

[2rth2pwr]

Rumor only- from Slate

The MSM really doesn't want to report it.
By Mickey Kaus
Updated Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, at 3:38 PM ET

The National Enquirer http://www.nationalenquirer.com/john_edwards_cheating_scandal/celebrity/64271">claims to have enough of the Edwards cheating-on-cancer-stricken-wife story, including "bombshell" e-mails, to run with. ... P.S.: They "met in a bar." Sounds familiar! ... You read it here first. ... OK, you read it on http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/26/edwards-mystery-innocuou_n_66070.html">HuffPo first. ... HuffPo 's Sam Stein now has lots of http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/10/scrubbed-edwards-filmmak_n_67868.html">background material. ... P.P.S.: When I ask friends they split roughly 50/50 on whether, if true, this is a legitimate story. The MSM seems to be strenuously trying to not report it. Given how Edwards' campaign has tacitly and effectively used Elizabeth and her struggle, etc., I think if true it's scummy behavior on his part that Democratic primary voters should know about. His campaign is denying it. ...

kf Forward Lean, I: If the story is true, what happens to Edwards? First, I guess his private fundraising dries up. You'd think a candidate who knew this scandal was coming down the pike would have switched to public funding or something. Oh, right. ... Another reason to think he'd try to soldier on: Dropping out after a scandal would tarnish him in a way that denying and losing wouldn't. ...

kf Forward Lean, II: If Edwards sinks or disappears, does it benefit Hillary? You'd think no--she doesn't want a clarified head-to-head race against Obama. But Obama is counting on Edwards to do the dirty work of taking Hillary on. ... The ideal outcome for Obama would be if Edwards loses most of his support yet stays in the race long enough to go on the attack. But even a complete Edwards disappearance would still benefit Obama, I'd think. (It's a zero-sum game--somebody has to benefit.) ... 11:58 A.M. link http://www.slate.com/id/2175509/#metinabar