HispanicBusiness

Rielle Hunter, the mistress of 2008 presidential candidate John Edwards, whose political career was ruined by their extramarital affair, finally broke her silence today, telling GQ Magazine that she loves him, and that she had recommended that he drop out of the race.

Hunter, who met Edwards in 2006, said she suggested to Edwards that same year that he hold off on announcing his candidacy, saying that her astrology and intuition were telling her the first three months of 2007 would be very difficult for him.

He nevertheless announced his candidacy in December of 2006. A few months later, his wife's cancer returned. Hunter said Edwards wanted out of the race, but that his wife, Elizabeth, wanted him to stay the course.

"And my surprise was that they stayed in the race," Hunter said in the interview, which was released today. "I was shocked. I really viewed it as reckless."

Hunter, 45, said she and Edwards are still very much in love, and that he has been a caring father to their 2-year-old daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter.

"Everyone talks about how Johnny has fallen from grace," she said. "In reality, he's fallen to grace."