Earlier today, as reported by the Iowa Independent, Barack Obama criticized John Edwards regarding so-called “527″ groups and their soft-money influence on the campaign.

From Obama earlier today:

“John, yesterday, said he didn’t believe in 527s. Those are these independent groups that raise money without disclosure … We found out today that there’s an outside group that’s funding $750,000, just bought three-quarters of a million dollars worth of television time, and the individual running the group used to be John Edwards’ campaign manager.”

This video is John Edwards’ first response to the questions from Obama on the so-called 527s or soft money groups:

He was asked about Obama’s 527 criticism following an event in Lisbon, Iowa, and said, “I found out about this probably after most of you did through the news media.”To begin the brief press conference following his speech and question and answer period, Edwards introduced a stimulus package to boost the economy.

He was joined at the event by James Lowe, Des Moines attorney Roxanne Conlin, and the Lakey family.