Flirty, New Age Rielle Aimed to 'Save' Edwards

Flirting with John Edwards on a plane 2 years ago, Rielle Hunter looked like a schmoozy blonde trying—and failing—to tempt a presidential hopeful. But as Newsweek reporter Jonathan Darman got to know her, he realized she was documenting Edwards on video—and wanted to help him with New Age spiritualism. She called Edwards her latest project: If he only used his heart, not his head, she said, he could "change the world."

Darman asked how she liked Elizabeth Edwards. "She does not give off good energy," Hunter said. "She didn't make eye contact with me." Later fired by Edwards, Hunter planned to pitch a TV show about women who save men by having affairs with them. Darman asked about her own love life. "I'm in love," she said. Darman asked who with. "I can't tell you," said Hunter, "but maybe someday we'll all be friends."