Edwards not returning to UNC poverty center

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards likely won't be returning to the poverty center at the University of North Carolina that he helped launch three years ago.

Following his defeat in the 2004 election, Edwards was named the founding director of the UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity, giving him a platform to continue discussing poverty issues in America.

Edwards left the center in late 2006 to make a second run at the White House, and Katie Bowler, assistant dean for communications at the UNC School of Law, said other people have assumed leadership responsibilities at the center.

Bowler said officials don't expect Edwards to return, but said his recent admission of an extramarital affair has no bearing on his relationship with the center.

Edwards said last Friday that he had an affair in 2006 with Rielle Hunter, who was hired to produce videos for his campaign. He has denied fathering a child that Hunter delivered in February.