Several prominent Democrats say John Edwards needs to address claims that he fathered a child.

With two weeks before the national convention, some prominent party strategists say that the former North Carolina senator has to address a story in the National Enquirer to save his spot as a speaker.

As a former vice presidential nominee and a presidential candidate who won delegates this year, Edwards would normally be a shoo-in for a speaking slot. But some worry that lingering questions will be raised if Edwards speaks.

Edwards called the story "tabloid trash," but he has avoided talking with reporters at length.

"If it's not true, he's got to stand up and say, 'This is not true. That is not my child and I'm going to take legal action against the people who are spreading these lies.' It's not enough to say, 'That's tabloid trash,' " said Gary Pearce, a strategist who ran Edwards' 1998 Senate race.

Don Fowler, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, said that Edwards has to give "an explanation that's satisfactory." (Char-O)

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole may take political tips from Mike Huckabee, but she's sure not following his diet advice.

According to a press release from the N.C. Republican Party, Dole will hold events Saturday at the state GOP convention, beginning with an 8 a.m. meet-and-greet in her hospitality suite with the former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate.

"Sen. Dole's day begins at 8 a. m. with a coffee and doughnut breakfast in her hospitality suite located in the Biltmore Room," the release notes.

Huckabee, you'll recall, is the famously thin author of the diet-tips book "Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork." Doughnuts, meantime, are the favorite food of Homer Simpson.

In Dole's defense, no one — with the possible exception of Martha Stewart — eats a doughnut with a knife and fork.

Either way, Dole will be sharing her diet tips — and political thoughts, presumably — with conventiongoers at 10:45 a.m. in the Guilford Ballroom at the Koury Convention Center.

The head of the South Carolina Republican Party will speak in Greensboro.

GOP Chairman Katon Dawson will be a special guest for an evening banquet at the North Carolina Republican Party convention on Friday.

"Chairman Dawson has been a visionary leader for the South Carolina Republican Party as well as a friend to North Carolina Republicans and a voice for consistent, conservative principles on the national stage," said N.C. Chairwoman Linda Daves in a statement. 

The convention will be held Friday through Sunday at the Joseph Koury Convention Center. 

Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was such a crowd pleaser when he spoke to the GOP convention in New Bern two years ago that he has been invited back for an encore performance.

Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, is scheduled to speak to the Republican Convention at their luncheon on June 7th at the Koury Center in Greensboro, Rob Christensen reports.

The last time he addressed state Republicans, Huckabee was a virtual political unknown. But since then, Huckabee ran a surprisingly strong — and underfinanced campaign for president — before eventually withdrawing in favor of Arizona Sen. John McCain earlier this year.