BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — John Edwards didn’t have to dodge tough questions from an Indiana University audience Tuesday, when the former presidential candidate returned to the stage three months after admitting to an extramarital affair.
The Democrat’s speech covered politics, poverty, and his hopes for America and the world, and he later discussed President -elect Barack Obama and other topics from the audience. But the question-and-answer period featured only written queries that had been submitted before his speech.
The affair he acknowledged with filmmaker Rielle Hunter wasn’t mentioned. After his public statements in August, Edwards said he did not plan to speak about the affair again.
In response to other questions from the audience, he praised Hillary Rodham Clinton’s leadership and said his favorite superhero was Superman.
Edwards also said the intense and exhausting primary season helped Obama.
“That long, drawn-out, tough process played a role in making him a better candidate,” Edwards said. “He was well-prepared for this general election campaign.”
Edwards said he wanted to continue working for poor people struggling to survive in America and abroad, regardless of whether he remains in politics.
“That’s what I want to spend my life doing,” he said.
