The National Enquirer is enjoying an extended victory lap since it exposed former Sen. John Edwards' affair with a campaign worker.

National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation" program on Wednesday included Enquirer senior executive editor Steve Plamann in its discussion of how the media should handle rumor.

"We got a little lucky, and we’re also a little bit good," Plamann said of the Enquirer's series of stories on Edwards dating back to October.

The panel also included News & Observer political reporter Rob Christensen and Brian Ross, chief investigative correspondent for ABC News, the network that landed the interview in which Edwards admitted to an affair two years ago with Rielle Hunter.

In his segment, Ross said it wasn’t just luck that enabled the Enquirer to corner the market on key sources on the story.

"They pay people to talk to them. We're not in a position to do that," Ross said. "Again and again in trying to pursue this story, we would be asked by people who were central to it, 'What’s in it for me? They've [the Enquirer] offered me $50,000. What do you have?' We have a cup of coffee. So we're at a disadvantage there."

More after the jump.

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The News and Observer's political columnist will be at the Barnes and Noble in Winston-Salem tonight at 7 p.m. discussing his new book, "The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics."

He will also be at the Barnes and Noble in Fayetteville on Saturday at 3 p.m

You can catch Rob in Charlotte this weekend.

The longtime N&O political reporter and columnist Rob Christensen will be speaking Saturday at Park Road Books in the Queen City at 2 p.m.

He'll be reading from his book, "The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics," and answering questions.

You have another chance to ask Rob a question.

N&O reporter and columnist Rob Christensen will at Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe in Asheville at 7 p.m. Saturday talking about his new history of 20th century state politics, "The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics."

Among other topics, Christensen will be talking about Asheville's own, U.S. Sen. Robert Reynolds, the five-time married playboy who became such a Nazi sympathizer that he became known as The Tar Heel Fuhrer.

For a previous Q&A with Christensen, see here.

Rob Christensen recently took Dome reader questions on his new book, "The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics."

Here are his answers to a few of those questions: 

Is the book you wrote the book you set out to write? If different, how so?

This is pretty much the book I set out to write. I wanted to write the book that I wanted to read: a book that connected the dots, that provided some context, and that involved some story-telling.

In reviewing the period covered, did you have any eureka moments? What were they?

A long the way, there were a number of surprises. Who knew that we almost had a governor lynched or that the first woman candidate for governor was a KGB agent, or that a North Carolina senator was a Nazi sympathizer? But what was most interesting to me is how the same issues play out time and time again. As Harry Truman once remarked, the only thing new in the world is the history you don't know.

Who was the most fascinating unheralded political figure you encountered or learned about?

Gov. O. Gardner, who was elected in 1928. He was a textile plant owner and a lawyer who pretty much invented state government as it exists today. After leaving office, he moved to Washington to become one of the first of the super lobbyists. But for 20 years he continued to run the state from his suite in the Mayflower Hotel.

Is there anyone who in your estimate should have but didn't achieve political success warranted by his or her ability? Who was the most memorable overachiever?

The memorable overachiever was two-term Sen. Robert Reynolds (1932-1944) who won election saying that the sitting senator, Cameron Morrison, a Charlotte plutocrat, ate fish eggs and red Russian fish eggs at that, and wasn't it time to elect a senator who didn't mind eating regular old North Carolina hen eggs.

What would be the subject of a book about N.C. politics that you have no intention of writing?

A boring history of the administration of each governor.

How can North Carolina be represented by John Edwards and Jesse Helms? Why is the state so politically divided?

N&O columnist Rob Christensen tackles that question in his new book, "The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics."

He'll be speaking at the Cary Barnes & Noble at 7 p.m. Tuesday, but he'll also take your questions in this comment thread.

Rob Christensen says a high-profile presidential primary would change the governor's race.

In his Sunday column, the N&O political reporter says that North Carolina could see the Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton "circus" come to town this year.

At first blush, he says it would help Beverly Perdue's campaign.

Perdue leads among black voters, 56 percent to 19 percent, and among female voters, 48 percent to 29 percent, according to a survey of likely Democratic voters released Friday by Public Policy Polling.

"A turnout increase among women and among African-Americans and progressive voters in general could be an advantage for Perdue," said Mac McCorkle, a Perdue strategist. "But we are not taking anything like that to the bank."

On the other hand, he argues it's also possible that a higher turnout of younger, unaffiliated voters could help Richard Moore.

Still, the increase in political ads and campaign coverage would drown out the other races, he says.

Previously: Gary Pearce says it's an "X factor."

Rob Christensen says electing the schools superintendent is "democracy run amok."

In a 2000 column, the longtime N&O reporter wrote that North Carolina and North Dakota have the longest ballots in the country, electing a number of positions that are appointed in other states.

He argued that there are good reasons to elect the secretary of state, lieutenant governor and state auditor, but not the agriculture, labor and insurance commissioners or the superintendent of public instruction. Those positions, he said, should be appointed.

The only reason why the long ballot has worked traditionally is that governors and other party leaders handpicked Council of State candidates—often when an incumbent died. The party leaders knew who had the smarts and character for the job and who didn't.

He noted that the Brookings Institution recommended making the positions appointed in the 1930s, but Democratic state officials balked.

The full column after the jump.

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Rob Christensen says that North Carolina is in the big leagues.

In his Sunday column in the N&O, Christensen points out that U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is mentioned as a possible running mate to John McCain, Sen. Elizabeth Dole ran for president in 2000 and former Sen. John Edwards is currently running for president.

For the last quarter of a century, North Carolina has been one of the most politically competitive states in the country. The state is marked by fierce partisan warfare, high-priced campaigns and the latest advertising techniques.

The coming of age is also partly due to population. With nine million people, North Carolina is the 10th-largest state, so its leaders are mentioned along with those of California, New York and Ohio.

As a result, its leaders are "increasingly becoming national players"

Adam Searing gives two thumbs up to "Senator No."

Writing on the Progressive Pulse blog, the health care policy analyst says he saw the new documentary on former Sen. Jesse Helms last night.

For anyone interested in NC politics the documentary is fascinating and even holds a few surprises. Despite their mysterious loss at WRAL, John did manage to uncover footage from one of the national networks of a couple of Helm’s famous viewpoint video editorials that made him so famous. There are great documents from the NC Banker’s Association where Helms led for a time and where he managed to turn the association newsletter into an editorial blunderbuss against integration.

The documentary also features the N&O's Rob Christensen and rock star Bono.

It airs on UNC-TV at 9 p.m. next Tuesday.