In a remarkable display of stupid, John Edwards admitted to ABC News today that yes, the Enquirer was at least partially right, and he did have an affair with that woman.

John Edwards repeatedly lied during his Presidential campaign about an extramarital affair with a novice filmmaker, the former Senator admitted to ABC News today.

In an interview for broadcast tonight on Nightline, Edwards told ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff he did have an affair with 42-year old Rielle Hunter, but said that he did not love her.

Edwards also denied he was the father of Hunter's baby girl, Frances Quinn, although the one-time Democratic Presidential candidate said he has not taken a paternity test.

Yeah, just run for President with that kind of story slowly simmering away in the background. Brilliant.

Via email from Dan Squadron, an interesting follow-up to our piece this morning on real estate switching sides.

Connor Stays in Bed With Real Estate
As Democrats on Verge of Taking Over the State Senate

Squadron Maintains "Clean Money Pledge" So
He Can Stand Up to Special Interests

Today, Daniel Squadron, candidate for State Senate in the 25th Senatorial District, admonished incumbent Martin Connor for continuing to accept campaign contributions from Real Estate interests, at a time when the industry is reportedly attempting to curry favor with Senate Democrats in preparation for blocking pro-tenant measures.

Since 1999 Connor has taken nearly $30,000 in contributions from real estate interests, including over $4,000 from the anti-tenant Rent Stabilization Associations. In this election cycle so far, Connor has reported receiving a total of $7,800 from real estate, including contributions from the Real Estate Board of New York and Muss Development.

"It's clear the real estate industry is terrified at the possibility of pro-tenant reforms such as repealing vacancy control. I'm going to have the freedom to throw down the gauntlet on this issue in a way my opponent failed to do as part of the deal that gave us the current system," said Squadron. "While he continues to accept contributions from compromising corporations, PACs and lobbyists, I will stick by my Clean Money Pledge – because I believe my constituents deserve to be 100% confident that I am always fighting for them."

Daniel Squadron is running in the Democratic Primary to represent the 25th State Senate District. He was a co-author, with Senator Charles Schumer, of the book Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time. He has also worked for the public schools and was Communications Director on the campaign to pass the Transportation Bond Act.

Of course, now that Connor has somehow, miraculously, managed to turn the tables and run as the outsider against the big-money favorite, factoids like this - Squadron takes no special-interest PAC money, Connor does - may not be enough. It's really funny how positioning works sometimes, I'll say that much.

Breaking via Albany Project: Jimmy Dahroug just filed a stipulation in a courthouse in Suffolk to have his name removed from the September primary ballot in the Third Senatorial District.

Spin Cycle notes that

Doug Forand, a Senate Democratic campaign consultant working for Foley, said a decision was made to drop the suit [to challenge Dahroug's petitions] “in the interest of party unity” because the court hearing was about to begin dealing with “criminal accusations” involving potentially fraudulent signatures.

I've been quite open about my disenchantment with Jimmy's campaign, but I'd also like to note that he's a smart guy with a compelling story who could very well play a role going forward. It's in everyone's interest to groom young talents, and that's exactly what Jimmy is; so I'm looking forward to seeing what his next steps are.

The DSCC is hitting republican misfit Senator Joe Robach hard via mail this week. Here are two pieces going out in the 56th District.

One more and some thoughts, over the fold.

You all know that incumbent state senator Kevin Parker (21SD) is in the fight of his political life, as he tries to fend off challenges from council members Stewart and Felder in what is turning out to be a relatively quiet race so far (surprisingly). Parker is being tested again because he doesn’t how to not make enemies; while Stewart is testing whether or not the fallout from the legal woes of two of his staffers is politically fatal. Felder is just testing the waters; trying to turn a single hit in 2001 into a double in 2008. He is looking to steal second base so to speak. In baseball terms: he is running both fast and hard.

All three campaigns are expressing confidence that victory is assured; two of these campaigns will be wrong. I think that although this race is up for grabs: I have a strong sense of who the winner will be. I will predict the winner in a column I will post on the day of the election. Until then I will keep that to myself. And by the way: I have cancelled the bet I earlier made on the outcome of this race. Betting publicly on elections is illegal, and after all, I am a law abiding citizen.

Despite their political differences, all three candidates share one thing in common: the belief that Congressman Ed Towns should be re-elected. On Wednesday, Kevin Parker endorsed Towns on the steps of Borough Hall. They tell me that Marty Markowitz was also there to endorse Ed Towns; along with assembly members Karim Camara, Darryl Towns and Hakeem Jeffries. Also there (I am told) were state senators John Sampson and Eric Adams.

Fascinating piece in The New York Times this morning on the shifting balance of power in the state, as the smart money, literally, moves to Democrats.

Anticipating a Democratic takeover of the New York State Senate this fall, real estate executives have begun courting Senate Democratic leaders, hoping to fend off what they expect will be aggressive efforts by tenant groups to revamp rent regulations next year.

The effort represents a significant new approach for real estate interests, which for years have been closely allied with the Senate’s Republican majority. But after controlling the Senate for four decades, the Republicans now hold a bare one-seat majority and many strategists believe the Democrats are in a strong position to gain control of the chamber in November.

Looking to block or water down an array of pro-tenant measures, including the repeal of vacancy decontrol, that have won support in the Democratic-controlled Assembly, real estate industry executives have stepped up their campaign donations to the Senate Democratic leadership, a review of campaign-contribution records shows. They are also continuing to contribute to Republicans.

Upsides and downsides: on the one hand, this is a clear sign of confidence by an interest known for cool-headed evaluations in who is going to be running the Senate come January, and it's not Angry Old Man Skelos. On the other, Democrats need to stick to the agenda that's going to win them in the election.

Okay; so Congressman Ed Towns may fire me from the present campaign after he reads this column; that’s not my intent, but I have always been one to call a spade a spade and at this stage of my life I don’t see that changing. In the 40th Assembly District both Congressman Ed Towns and New York City councilmember Charles Barron have done someone wrong. And it didn’t start with this year’s race. The person wronged is Kenneth S. Evans.

Does this mean that I no longer support Ed Towns for re-election: hell no. Towns is the superior candidate this year; and it isn’t even close. That’s the main reason why I accepted his offer to join his campaign this year. From my qualified position, he is the better candidate: period. Kevin Powell is not ready. Plus; during these fiscal hard times do you really want a rookie in Congress? Ed Towns has brought home billions of dollars for Brooklyn over the years; he will continue to do so: Powell is not the answer.

Look, it is tough to work on campaigns during the “silly season”, while at the same time trying to maintain your blogging integrity. It could become a juggling act. Sometimes people will want you to stay off the hard stuff. But you know me, I give it straight with no chaser. I guess that’s why I am “persona-non-gratis” in some political circles. They won’t hire me but they sure love to read my columns; some of them just can’t get enough of my funky stuff.

Okay, let’s start with Ken Evans. He is the former head of what some say is the oldest civil rights group in the country: the Urban League. Today, many years after his tenure there, programs which he started in the district back then, are still in existence. He has been a political activist all his life. He is the father of three kids (one son and two daughters). One of his daughters is an attorney and heading for a PHD; the other is a doctor; his son is still a kid. He has done a wonderful job with his kids. He once served on the board of the Police Athletic League; he has great ideas for youth development; he also has great ideas for community development, and education, and health care, and affordable housing, and senior citizens; and you name it.

He is a very intelligent man. He graduated from Seton Hall Law School. He is calm, cool and respectable. But he has a flaw (in my estimation) and it has to do with trust. He will tell you straight that he doesn’t trust politicians. He is highly suspicious of their true motives and intent. And although his position-take isn’t totally irrational, I think it does cause him problems, and that politically it might have cost him dearly in the past. Plus he is very reserved.

You see to me, you must take your chances and trust people. Some will disappoint you, others will betray you, and others yet still will hurt you (emotionally and otherwise). But that is life and that is living. You learn and you grow. Sometimes you even forgive. When people sense your distrust they return the favor ten fold. It’s a no-win for you.

Two years ago, while working on his last campaign (Director of Field Operations), I went to a church in the district (East New York) and heard a reverend -who hadn’t seen him for umpteen years- singing his praises. The reverend spoke freely about how Evans and his dad were marching for civil rights when Ken was just a teenager. I was impressed; this guy has dedicated his life to political activism. It’s admirable. I am told that the prominent and eminent Reverend Gardiner Taylor is his adoptive father. He is from good stock.

For some time I have said that there is a simple difference between Republicans and Democrats (referring, mind you, to party "leaders" and the political consultants):

Republicans assume voters are stupid; Democrats fear this is true.

There it is. Ten words, evenly divided (talk about fair and balanced). That statement seems to me to inform everything the parties do.

Then along comes Barack Obama. He insists that voters are actually smart. He treats voters as intelligent people, who can understand nuance, who can (and want to) dig below the surface, the buzz words, the same old garbage that campaigns have spewed out for decades.

Take his "flip-flop" on offshore drilling. He never switched positions; he's always been against it, and still is. All he said recently was that if it took allowing a little offshore drilling in order to get the real changes that will actually help make us independent of foreign oil, he'll be willing to compromise.

What's the effect?

In a stinging rebuke to immigrant-bashing Lou-Dobbs-wannabe ex-republican Jack Davis, 2004 Presidential nominee and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry came out hard for Jon Powers today.

Via Daily Kos:

It will be three years ago this fall that I met Jon Powers and there isn’t a more impressive young man getting involved in public life today. [...]

I first met Jon at a screening I attended of the documentary Gunner’s Palace. When I heard his story, and I talked to him, I was blown away. I then asked him to give the introduction to the speech I gave on dissent and patriotism at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

Jon later told me that he remembers that day because it helped inspire him to run for Congress, a fact that I’m very proud of.[...]

His primary opponent is a self-funded millionaire who is responsible for the gutting of the Millionaire’s Amendment – and who has launched a slew of misleading attacks – so please do what you can to help.[...]

Why is this personal to me? Because I believe in the courage and character of a young man who was a platoon leader in the First Armored Division in Baghdad during the early years of the Iraq war. His commanding officer described Jon as, “one of the most talented officers I have known in twenty-two years of service in the Army.”

Support Jon Powers - click here. This isn't just a fight about who's going to run in NY-26 in November; it goes to the root of the question of what kind of party we want to be. Me, I'd prefer not to nominate the ultra-rich former Cheney crony - until he was removed from a Cheney event for being annoyingly disruptive, that is - who went all the way to the Supreme Court to gut the millionaires amendment.

In the 40th Assembly District in Brooklyn they are searching for a replacement to former assemblywoman (and also former district leader/female) Diane Gordon. The last time we looked Diane got 4 to 6 years in prison, for attempted bribery and other things. And right now there are six candidates in the upcoming democratic primary vying to replace her. They are namely (with odds); Earl Williams (the male district leader/ 2to1), Inez Barron (the wife of councilmember Charles Barron/3to1), Kenneth (Ken) S. Evans (the former head of the NY Urban League/6to1), Nathan Bradley (the former chief of staff for Diane Gordon/10 to1), Winchester Keys (the former chief of staff to the former assembly member Ed Griffiths/15 to1), and a newcomer named Donizetta Brown (who remains somewhat of a mystery up to this point/50to1).

People have been wondering as to who helped Ms. Brown make this race and stay on the ballot. They believe that it was a direct attempt to siphon off female votes from Inez Barron, and some have placed that candidacy on the steps of Earl Williams. As many of you know, I had written that Mrs. Barron should win this race. That was back when she was the only female runner. Now I am not so certain about that. I think Inez Barron still has a very good chance, but it isn’t as easy as before with this other lady in the race now.

Last week Wednesday there was a public forum for all these candidates; four showed up. Missing in action were Winchester Keys and Ms. Donizetta Brown. The two of them probably had much better things to do, since the debate itself was rather disappointing in terms of quality. Earl Williams showed some spunk for a guy who (they tell me) is on the northern side of age seventy and had had problems with his old ticker. But he still left a lot to be desired when it came to being specific on issues. Nathan Bradley came over as a slick talking hip-hop artist. His cheering section was loud and animated but his content was weak. Ken Evans was too professorial for the crowd and that probably diminished the quality of his content. And although Inez Barron was articulate, she lost points for attaching herself to her husband’s hip too much. This led to the evening’s fireworks.