A week ago, few major media outlets had touched a National Enquirer report alleging an extramarital rendezvous by former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) at a Los Angeles hotel – at least not in traditional news formats.

The Raleigh News & Observer, one of the handful of newspapers pledging to follow the story, on Wednesday took the angle that the former vice presidential candidate risks losing his coveted speaking spot at this month’s Democratic convention if he doesn’t forcefully address the tabloid reports.

Politico.com reported last month that Edwards told confidants that he was promised a prime time speaking spot when he endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).