Elizabeth Edwards to have Obama's ear

Barack Obama announced in his economy speech today that Elizabeth Edwards will work with him on healthcare policy -- the issue that is the cause of her life and on which she preferred Hillary Clinton.

While her husband John Edwards gave Obama a high-profile endorsement, Elizabeth Edwards had stayed neutral, all the way through Clinton's concession and suspension of her bid on Saturday.

Edwards, who was seated in the front row for Obama's address, had said she liked Clinton's plan better because it included a requirement for people to obtain insurance. Those favoring the so-called individual mandate say it's the only workable way to cover all 47 million Americans without insurance, and Clinton often said that Obama would leave 15 million people behind.

Obama's plan, at least for now, focuses more on affordability. He and supporters of this approach say if policies are affordable, people will buy coverage without being forced.

In his speech, Obama repeated his pledges to make available the same healthcare plan that members of Congress get, to reduce insurance premiums by $2,500 a year for the typical family, and to prevent insurance companies from discriminating.