Edwards Cancels All Upcoming Appearances Through Election To Avoid Distracting From Obama Bid For White House

Chapel Hill, NC (AHN) - Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Thursday canceled all his speaking engagements until after the November election, saying he doesn't want to be a distraction from the Democratic presidential ticket.

The former North Carolina senator has been keeping a low profile since last month when he confirmed news that he had an extramarital affair with a filmmaker working for his presidential campaign.

But as late as Wednesday, his representatives reportedly confirmed to the University of Buffalo that he was still planning to debate Republican strategist Karl Rove on Sept. 26 as part of the University's Distinguished Speakers Series.

However, on Thursday, Edwards canceled that appearance and all others through the Nov. 4 election, including an appearance Monday at Hofstra University in Long Island, NY and an Oct. 14 speech on poverty at the University of Illinois that would have paid him $65,000.

Edwards reportedly issued a statement to the affected colleges giving the reasons behind his actions.

"I've decided to avoid any public engagements until after the election in November. Nothing is more important than electing Barack Obama and Joe Biden. I don't want my appearance at these events to be a distraction from the important issues of the election, or from the important purpose of these meetings," he said.

Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee, had suspended his bid for the presidency before Super Tuesday, after a disappointing finish in the 2008 Iowa caucus.