Edwards criticizes McCain healthcare plan

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic U.S. vice presidential candidate John Edwards, Tuesday criticized Republican John McCain's healthcare plan.

Edwards said McCain's healthcare plan could strip 580,000 Virginians of their health benefits, the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch reported.

Virginians, and others, would lose healthcare coverage because the McCain plan would cause companies to drop healthcare benefits, Edwards said at a news conference organized by the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

Edwards, who has cancer, said she likely could not get health insurance under the McCain plan.

The newspaper reported Edwards said that because she represents a not-for-profit group, she could not present details of Democratic candidate Barack Obama's healthcare plan.