Elizabeth Edwards talking health care in Raleigh

The wife of two-time Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards gave the keynote speech at an annual banquet sponsored by Common Cause North Carolina. The open-government advocacy group honored Elizabeth Edwards with their annual award her health care work.

"One person every 12 minutes dies, not because there isn't treatment for their disease, but because they can't get it. They're not insured," Elizabeth Edwards said. "We're under attack, and we need to get that same feeling that we can fight it."

Barbara Goodmon presented Elizabeth Edwards with the Plott Hound Award during the event. Mrs. Goodmon is president of the AJ Fletcher Foundation, a charity formed by the founder of Capitol Broadcasting, the parent company of WRAL-TV.

Elizabeth Edwards has continued to press lawmakers and the public to support an overhaul of the nation's health system.

John Edwards has largely spent time in seclusion since acknowledging an extramarital affair last year.