Roy Barnes says the new federal health reform law backed by fellow Democrats could be "financially devastating" for Georgia unless officials in Washington figure out a way to help states cope with a staggering jump in Medicaid costs.

Barnes, the Democrat running to reclaim the governor's mansion also blasted both political parties and President Barack Obama for failing to win bipartisan support for a law more Americans could get behind. In an interview with The Associated Press, Barnes labeled it "the greatest failure, modern failure, of political leadership in my lifetime."

Barnes' GOP opponent Nathan Deal opposes the health overhaul and stepped down from Congress in March after casting a vote against the measure.

Tags: health care, Nathan Deal, Roy Barnes, President Barack Obama, Gubernatorial Race 2010, Georgia Governor's Race 2010