Edwards plans announcement

Former senator John Edwards, D-N.C., and his wife, Elizabeth, have scheduled a news conference for today in their hometown of Chapel Hill, N.C., in what aides described as a major development in his 2008 presidential bid.

Advisers declined to discuss the details of the hastily arranged announcement ahead of time.

The appearance comes on the heels of a last-minute decision by Edwards this week to cancel an event in Iowa to accompany his wife to a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday. Elizabeth Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of her husband’s unsuccessful 2004 campaign as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. She subsequently underwent extensive treatment.

Her husband has repeatedly said he would put his wife’s well-being first; he announced that he would mount a second bid for the presidency after she was given a clean bill of health