Book tells of possible 1st meeting

In "Game Change," the new behind-the-scenes book on the 2008 presidential campaign, authors John Heilemann and Mark Halperin describe a scene at the Regency Hotel in Manhattan in February 2006 when John Edwards may have first met Rielle Hunter. The book, which relied on "deep background" interviews with unidentified people involved in the various campaigns, does not specify the sources of the information on the meeting.

"Edwards was hanging out in the bar, having a glass of wine with one of his donors and his young traveling aide, Josh Brumberger, when a woman sitting at a nearby table with some friends recognized him, walked over, and introduced herself. 'My friends insist you're John Edwards,' Rielle Hunter said. 'I tell them no way - you're way too handsome.'

"'No, ma'am. I'm John Edwards,' the candidate replied.

"'No way! I don't believe you!'

...

"From the get-go, Brumberger thought that she was trouble. Everything about her screamed groupie. She looked like a hybrid of Stevie Nicks and Lucinda Williams, in an outfit more suitable for a Grateful Dead concert than an evening at the Regency. A few minutes later, after Edwards departed for dinner around the corner, Hunter came back over to Brumberger and started quizzing him on his job. 'I think I can help you guys,' she said, and handed him her business card. The inscription read, 'Being Is Free: Rielle Hunter - Truth Seeker.'"