MANCHESTER – The deputy political director of John Edwards' New Hampshire campaign has resigned after writing what the campaign describes as distasteful internal e-mails critical of fellow New Hampshire Democrats.

Campaign spokesman Kate Bedingfield said last night that Matt Spence's e-mails were "made public" when someone breached the campaign's internal e-mail system, printed copies of the e-mails and sent them in the mail to several prominent New Hampshire Democrats.

Bedingfield said the campaign has asked law enforcement authorities to investigate the breach.

Bedingfield said Spence apologized for writing the e-mails and that the campaign "has personally apologized to everyone referenced in the e-mails."

"Certainly we do not tolerate that kind of language," Bedingfield said. She declined to elaborate.

According to George Washington University's "Democracy in Action" Web site, which details key players in campaign organizations, Spence is a graduate of North Carolina State University and a former president of the university's College Democrats. He managed the re-election campaign of state Sen. Peter Burling, D-Cornish, last year and was an early consultant for state Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, in her re-election bid.

The GWU Web site also said Spence was a volunteer coordinator for former Manchester Mayor Bob Baines' 2005 campaign.