Former North Carolina Senator and potential presidential hopeful John Edwards, a long-time critic of Wal-Mart, acknowledged today that a staffer tried to use Edwards' influence to land the politician's family a Playstation 3 at a local Wal-Mart.

Edwards, who says the staffer approached Wal-Mart without his knowledge, says the person "feels terrible" about trying to weasel a PS3 out of the company he so often attacks.

"My wife, Elizabeth, wanted to get a Playstation3 for my young children. She mentioned it in front of one of my staff people. That staff person mentioned it in front of a volunteer who said he would make an effort to get one. He was making an effort to go get one for himself," Edwards said.

"Elizabeth and I knew nothing about this. He feels terrible about this. He made a mistake and he knows he should not have used my name," Edwards said.

Wal-Mart had noted in a news release Thursday that on the same day Edwards was criticizing the company in a conference call with union-backed activists, the volunteer staff member had asked a Raleigh, N.C., electronics department manager to obtain a PS3 for the ex-senator's family.

The staffer called a Wal-Mart in Raleigh, N.C., leaving a message with the store that he is with Edwards' office and that he wanted to obtain a console for the man's family. When the store manager called back to break the news to the staffer, the staffer again said he worked for Edwards.

Wal-Mart was quick to make some political hay, issuing this statement:

"While the rest of America's working families are waiting patiently in line, Sen. Edwards wants to cut to the front."

Edwards dumped the whole problem in the staffer's lap and said the "young kid" was unaware of "flawed Wal-Mart policies." They must not be too flawed, Edwards still didn't get his PS3. Maybe he should have sent some strong-headed runners to the local Wal-Mart to compete in combat footraces. Brian Crecente

Edwards acknowledges staff asked Wal-Mart for Playstation 3 [AP]