Democrat John Edwards's deputy political director for New Hampshire resigned his campaign post after several "distasteful" e-mails he sent were leaked to outside sources, according to a campaign spokeswoman.

Matt Spence resigned over the weekend, after he was confronted with the e-mails, said Kate Bedingfield, spokeswoman for the Edwards campaign. Bedingfield said Spence's messages were made public by someone who had hacked into the campaign's e-mail system and then sent printed copies to several prominent New Hampshire Democrats.

"Out e-mail was violated, and we've handed everything over to the proper authorities," she said.

Bedingfield said the e-mails in question made disparaging references to several "Democratic leaders in the state," some of whom were affiliated with the Edwards campaign.

"The e-mails were composed with distasteful language in them," Bedingfield said. "The campaign has personally apologized to everyone who was referenced in the e-mails."

Spence had done campaign work for a handful of New Hampshire Democrats, including state Sen. Peter Burling and former Manchester mayor Bob Baines.

Daniel Barrick