Is Iowa John Edwards' Last Hope?

Oct. 21, 2007 — -- John Edwards will head back to Iowa this week.

The former senator from North Carolina has already spent about 50 days in Iowa this year, but his campaign is quick to point out that Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., have spent a lot of time there too.

It was Edwards who began coming to Iowa even before he was a candidate, traveling to the all-important caucus state 10 times last year and six times in 2005.

Since he has raised far less money than Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Edwards needs his investment in time to pay off.

"If he [Edwards] doesn't win Iowa, his campaign is very badly damaged," says Mike Glover, political reporter for the Associated Press.

Edwards counters, "I think anyone who doesn't win Iowa will have an uphill fight."

But he quickly notes that candidates have successfully fought that uphill fight before.

The most recent Iowa poll shows Clinton with a slight edge over Edwards and Obama, and beyond Iowa her lead grows substantially -- which is why, at nearly every stop, Edwards brings up Sen. Clinton.

Still, Edwards maintains, "I've engaged in no personal attacks on Sen. Clinton. If you don't point out differences, what purpose do you serve as a candidate?"

Iowa is equally important to Clinton's candidacy.

"If indeed Hillary Clinton is defeated in Iowa, then it is a brand-new ball game," says ABC News political analyst Mark Halperin.

Sens. Clinton and Obama have spent millions of dollars on TV ads in Iowa, while Edwards has spent just more than $12,000.

Even so, the Edwards campaign eagerly points out the race is still tight.