Rielle Hunter, the woman the National Enquirer claims had an 18-month affair with Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, is reportedly pregnant and in hiding. Both Edwards and Hunter (who used to go by the name Lisa Druck) have denied they ever had an affair, but she was closely involved with his campaign in its early stages and then just sort of oddly disappeared. Reports have also indicated that she was paid above average fees for the work she performed.

Hunter allegedly told a confidante that she is six months pregnant and that Edwards is the father of her unborn child. She also relocated to live in Chapel Hill, NC about a month ago. Her new home is just a few streets away from the residence of Andrew Young, who had been a key official in Edwards’ campaign — until he left the campaign about a month ago. Since then, Young has been in charge of looking after Hunter, according to Enquirer sources. Some are saying that Young, a married father with children, is claiming to be the father of the unborn child in an effort to protect Edwards.

There is widespread speculation that this is the sex scandal story involving a Democratic presidential candidate that was rumored to be being held by the LA Times.