Part of the allegation, still in dispute, is that John Edwards would and did willfully deny the legal rights of his bastard child, in order to protect his own image and popularity.

If this allegation were probably true, I would want to know about it before voting, and the man would lose my vote.

Even if he knew there was a possibility the child was his, but he avoided the responsibility to ascertain the truth, he would lose my vote.

Prudishness is not a part of that calculation.