John Edwards on the Comeback Trail?

Flap won’t be too cynical. But, how in God’s name could anyone come back into the political arena from this?

But, apparently Edwards is going to try.

Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards took another tentative step into the public spotlight tonight, speaking at Brown University about extreme poverty around the world and urging Americans to get involved in what he called a “fundamental moral issue.”

Edwards, a two-time candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, has struggled to get his message heard since a scandal about an affair he had with a former campaign staffer enveloped his personal life.

During 30 minutes of questions following tonight’s speech, just one person in the audience of nearly 600 came close to asking about the affair.

A student who said she organized for Edwards on campus and knocked on doors for him in New Hampshire asked whether politicians should be held to higher moral standards than the rest of the public.

The question sent murmurs through the crowd.

“I don’t think it’s for a candidate to decide what’s appropriate,” Edwards said. “It’s something for every American to decide for themselves.”

The Obama Administration and national Democrats in the Congress are wishing Edwards would just go away.

After all, look what they did to marginalize Howard Dean.