John Edwards: ‘I am Quinn’s father’; video of ‘Today’ interview

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John Edwards, the Democratic candidate for vice president in 2004 whose bid for the 2008 presidential nomination was cut short by an admitted sexual affair with a campaign videographer, admitted today that he was the father of the woman’s 2-year-old girl.

‘I am Quinn’s father,’ Edwards said in a statement to NBC News released this morning. ‘I will do everything in my power to provide her with the love and support she deserves.’’

Harrison Hickman, an Edwards associate, spoke about the relationship during an interview aired this morning on NBC’s ‘Today.’

‘The senator wants to say first of all that he is the father of Quinn,’’ Hickman said. ‘Secondly, he wants people to know that he has provided for her and will continue to provide for her, as he should, both financially and emotionally.’

The admission comes on the eve of an ABC ‘20/20’ program on Friday in which the man who had claimed to be Quinn’s father, former Edwards aide Andrew Young, is to speak about his book, ‘The Politician,’ expected to reveal more details.

Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina, admitted to an affair with videographer Rielle Hunter, 42, in between the 2004 and 2008 election cycles after tabloids uncovered their relationship. She later give birth to Frances Quinn.

‘I have been able to spend time with her during the past year and trust that future efforts to show her the love and affection she deserves can be done privately and in peace,’ Edwards said of the child in his statement today.

‘It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me,’ his statement said. ‘To all those I have disappointed and hurt, these words will never be enough, but I am truly sorry.’’

-- Mark Silva in Washington