Edwards pushes health care during Iowa visit

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) -- Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards pitched a universal health care plan to residents in southeast Iowa during his visit there this weekend.

Edwards, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, says his health care plan was formed by his wife's breast cancer diagnosis in 2004.

About 500 people attended a campaign stop Saturday night in Burlington. Edwards met with more residents at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington on Sunday.

Edwards says his wife's diagnosis and the aftermath has helped him get a personal view of the nation's health care system. He says the nation needs to move aggressively to fix it.

His plan would cost between 90 (B) billion dollars and 120 (B) billion a year and guarantee coverage for all Americans through a combination of public and private insurance plans.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)