Elizabeth Edwards criticizes McCain’s health plan

Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards, said today that Republican presidential candidate John McCain's health plan would take away health benefits from 580,000 Virginians.

At a news conference organized by the Center for American Progress Action Fund at the state Capitol today, Edwards said the 580,000 figure is an estimate based on projections that the McCain plan would cause companies to drop health care benefits.

Because she represents a not-for-profit, non-partisan advocacy group, Edwards could not present details of Democratic candidate Barack Obama's health care plan.

The McCain campaign has called Obama's criticism of his plan as "a lie."

Representatives of the Communication Workers of America and the Service Employees International Union lined a room at the Capitol to applaud Edwards.

Edwards, who has cancer, said she probably could not get coverage under the McCain plan.