ABC News' Raelyn Johnson reports: Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards returned to the political stage this evening in his first public appearance after admitting he had an extramarital affair.

Edwards delivered an address to students at Indiana University.  In prepared remarks he spoke about the 2008 presidential race, but made no mention of his headline-grabbing admission that sent him into seclusion for past three months.

"The result of last Tuesday was not an accident," said Edwards speaking of President-elect Barack Obama. "Americans want change and they wanted something different."

He reaffirmed praise for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, and noted that Obama was a more formidable opponent for Republican John McCain because of the long primary battle he fought with her.

In a lighthearted moment, Edwards said McCain "came back from the dead to win the Republican nomination." As the audience laughed, he quickly noted his comment was not a joke about the 72-year-old senator.

Following his remarks, Edwards answered presubmitted questions from students.  He was reportedly paid $35,000 for his speech.

The event marks Edwards’ first foray back into the public spotlight, after admitting exclusively to ABC News in August that he had an affair with Rielle Hunter, a videographer who was hired to work on his 2008 presidential campaign.

Edwards has since kept a low profile, canceling all speaking engagements during the general election season, in order to avoid distracting attention from Obama.  The former senator and vice presidential candidate played no role in his party’s nominating convention, this past August in Denver.

Edwards left students with the very message he left voters with during this campaign—that ending poverty is the central cause of his life, and will remain his life’s work.

Ben Phelps of the Indiana Daily Student contributed to this report.