The situation for disgraced former presidential candidate John Edwards is really starting to get sticky. We told you how Edwards privately admitted to his wife that he is indeed the father of mistress Rielle Hunter’s 1-year-old daughter, Frances. Now, Elizabeth Edwards, who is dying from terminal breast cancer, will be making an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. It’s not clear what Mrs. Edwards will be talking about, but Rielle Hunter is prepared to respond to any potential remarks by making an appearance of he own in an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer or Barbara Walters.

John Edwards’ mistress Rielle Hunter is “ready for her close-up” with her first national TV interview since the cheating scandal wrecked his career, The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively.

In a startling change of heart, Rielle Hunter has decided to face the cameras and has narrowed her choice of interviewer to either “ABC News” correspondents Diane Sawyer or Barbara Walters, say sources.

“Rielle had previously assured John she wasn’t going to spill the beans,” said a close source. “But she’s changed her tune after thinking Elizabeth Edwards might disparage her in the upcoming interview she’s already taped with Oprah Winfrey.

“The interview will be broadcast in mid-May to coincide with the publication of Elizabeth’s new book in which she’s likely to address the affair.”

As a result, a behind-the-scenes war of words is breaking out between Rielle and Elizabeth.

“Rielle’s decided she’s not going to sit back while Edwards’ wife gives her side of the story,” said the close source. “As much as John hates it, he’s defenseless to stop either woman from saying what she wants. It’s now erupted into a war between his wife and his former mistress over who will have the last word in what could be dueling TV interviews.”

Rielle intensified talks with the ABC superstars in early April in preparation for going in front of the cameras.

“No deal is done, but Rielle seems to favor Barbara Walters over Diane because Barbara admitted recently she engaged in a long-ago affair,” said the close source. “This makes Rielle believe Barbara will show her more compassion than Diane would.”

Following a series of world exclusive Enquirer exposes, the former presidential candidate finally admitted to the affair last summer – after our reporters caught the ex-senator visiting Rielle and her baby in a Beverly Hills hotel.

Both Edwards and Rielle have publicly maintained that Edwards is not the father.

Rielle claimed that the father is Andrew Young, a married Edwards crony. But we’ve reported that Rielle has privately told close friends that she never had a sexual relationship with Young – and has confided that Edwards is really the baby’s father.

Will Rielle spill her guts on national TV?

[From The National Enquirer print version, April 27, 2009]

Between his wife doing Oprah and his mistress doing ABC news, John Edwards’ head must be about to explode. And I say, serves him right! This jerk thought he could get away with cheating on his terminally ill wife AND fathering a child with that mistress. He admitted in that interview last year that not only did he cheat, but he is a narcissist. Damn right. I don’t really have any interest in hearing what this Rielle person has to say. She’s just as bad as he is. It’s not like she didn’t know what she was getting herself into with Edwards. The person I’d love to hear from is Elizabeth – although it seems like she has chosen to stand by her man- even though he’s a total scum bag.