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But by March 4, when local Democrats can finally make their voices heard in the ballot box, Edwards could be out of the race.
''It's unclear whether he will have the wherewithal to stay in the race up until Ohio,'' said David Cohen, a professor of political science at the University of Akron.
Many local officials are still hoping Edwards will pull off an upset after coming in a distant third in the New Hampshire primary.
''I'm optimistic that he'll be able to get his message through,'' said State Rep. Matt Lundy, D-Elyria, an Edwards supporter. ''I think he really understands the plight of the middle class, and I think he could bring about real change.''
The front-loaded primary schedule -- with several large states having primaries on Feb. 5, or ''Super Tuesday'' -- means that more than 60 percent of the delegates for the Democratic National Convention will have already been decided.
The Ohio legislature decided not to change the state's March primary, claiming it was more important as a crucial state in the November general election battle.
Candidates have made few stops in Ohio, and there's been little effort to court local officials to one side or another.
But after the New Hampshire and Iowa contests failed to produce clear front runners in either party, politicians and observers are beginning to wonder whether the nominations will be wrapped up by March.
''With Super-Duper Tuesday coming up, that's up in the air,'' said State Rep. Matt Barrett, D-Amherst. ''My original impression was that no, Ohio's not going to be that important in the overall outcome of the primaries.''
Barrett was an early Edwards supporter and donated $250 to him last year.
He said he wasn't discouraged by Edwards' performance so far.
''I'm confident that he is still going to be a candidate when it comes to March,'' said Barrett.
Gov. Ted Strickland surprised many when he announced his support for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton last year.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, a former Lorain congressman, has declined to endorse any candidate, but he said he wished the two current frontrunners -- Clinton and Illnois Sen. Barack Obama -- would follow Edwards lead.
''I think I would like to see each candidate adopt a little more of Edwards' message of economic populism,'' said Brown.
Brown said he thought Edwards was being outshined by his opponents star power.
''Hillary and Obama have some real star appeal,'' said Brown. ''I don't think it's his message.''
Lorain County Commissioner Lori Kokoski said she leaning toward Edwards.
''Hopefully, John Edwards will still be a candidate to vote for when it comes to Ohio,'' said Kokoski.
But not all local officials are rooting for Edwards.
''I'm supporting Hillary,'' said Lorain County Commissioner Betty Blair. ''I think she's the most qualified, and I think it's time we had a woman for president. I want to see it happen in my lifetime.''
Lorain County Commissioner Ted Kalo echoed Blair
''She brings a wealth of experience to the office,'' said Kalo.
Others were rooting for Bill Richardson, the New Mexico governor and former secretary of energy -- and the only prominent Hispanic on the presidential ticket -- only to see him drop out earlier this week.
Long-serving Councilman Forest Bullocks, D-Elyria, said he is torn between Clinton and Obama.
He said the race has been marred by gender and racial issues. Clinton is the first woman to win the New Hampshire primary, and Obama was the first black candidate to win the Iowa Caucus.
''People have to get over the gender and the racial thing,'' said Bullocks. ''This is a new day. Intelligence can come in any form. ... It's hard for me to fathom that someone would not vote for Hillary or for Barack Obama because of their gender or their race.''
Other local officials were rooting for long-shot candidates, only to see them drop out after the first contests.
''I think the guy I like is bucking for the vice presidency,'' said Lorain Mayor Anthony Krasienko, who supported Richardson. ''I just like his common-sense approach to his policies. He's a guy who's been in the trenches.''
State Rep. Joe Koziura, D-Lorain, was also a Richardson supporter, he isn't a fan of the primary process.
''The campaign just started, and I'm tired of it,'' said Koziura, D-Lorain. ''It's absurd, the process. Most people won't be tuning in until later.''
Koziura predicted the contest would come down to Edwards and Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain.
He said he wasn't supporting Clinton.
''My problem with the presidential thing -- you first had senior Bush and then Clinton, and W, and now we're going to have another Clinton,'' said Koziura. ''It's like a monarchy.''
The local Democratic party isn't making any endorsement. Tom Smith, head of the county party, said he also isn't publically supporting anyone.
''People don't separate me from the party,'' said Smith.
And while Lorain County leans toward Democratic candidates if you look at the past presidential election, there are Republican supporters, as well -- and they like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Helen Hurst, a North Ridgeville Republican party member, said she is sticking with Giuliani, despite his meager showings in the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary.
''As far as I know, Rudy is just gearing up,'' said Hurst. ''He never planned on winning New Hampshire.''
Newly elected Avon Lake Mayor K.C. Zuber is also a fan of the former mayor.
''I think he has the ability and the background,'' said Zuber. ''The things that he did in New York City are some great things he could do for the country. He's a straight-up guy. He tells you what he thinks.''
David Arredondo, head of the Lorain Republican Party, said he is also supporting Giuliani, but he questioned his campaign's strategy of pulling resources out of Iowa and New Hampshire to focus on bigger states.
''I don't care for his strategy,'' said Arredondo. ''Right now he's ahead in Florida, but that could change in the next two and a half weeks. If he doesn't win Florida, it's going to make it tough for him to win Super Tuesday.''
Arredondo, whose daughter is slated to be an alternate delegate at the Republican National Convention for Giuliani if he wins the 13th Congressional District, said he hopes to cast a meaningful vote for the candidate in March.
''It's all about delegates, it's not what the media thinks about you,'' said Arredondo. ''Hopefully, we'll see four or five strong candidates for the March 4 primary here in Ohio.''
A look at the campaign contributions to candidates show that according to the Federal Election Commission, 11 people from Lorain County donated a total of $16,795 to the Edwards' campaign.
That's nearly twice what Clinton and Obama raised. Clinton raised $8,764 from nine donors, while Obama raised $8,111 from 12 people.
Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware, who dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucus, raised $1,150 from Lorain County residents.
Richardson raised $975 from Lorain Countians, while Cleveland Congressman Dennis Kucinich raised $765.
On the Republican side, McCain raised $2,147 from county residents, while Giuliani received $2,000 from an Avon Lake donor.
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney raised $810, while former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson raised $750 from Lorain Countians.
Other Republicans who received money from Lorain County donors include Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who raised $750, and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who raised $600.
Erie and Huron counties donors tilt more Republican and gave $1,500 to McCain, $1,000 to Giuliani, $400 to Romney and $750 to Paul, according to the FEC.
Brownback, who has dropped out of the race, also received $391 from a single donor in Willard.
Democratic donors in Erie and Huron also prefered John Edwards. Three donors from the area donated $1,284 to his campaign.
Clifford Brown, the 91-year-old former Supreme Court judge, donated $100 to Obama's campaign.
Biden also received $250 from one donor.
