ABC: Edwards attacks Clinton for leaving South Carolina (Go Johnny!)

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson Reports: Campaigning in his birth state of South Carolina this afternoon, John Edwards leveled serious criticisms at Sen. Hillary Clinton -- claiming he was more dedicated and electable than she is.

Claiming that he best understood voters' lives in the Palmetto State, Edwards slammed Clinton for leaving South Carolina following Monday night's Democratic debate.

"We need a president of the United States who actually understands your life," Edwards said. "It's one thing to fly into South Carolina from some place else, give a speech, go to a debate and then fly back out," said Edwards speaking to voters in the town of Bennettsville. "It is a very different thing to have lived here to have grown up in this part of the country and to understand in a personal way what's happening in your lives."

Clinton has left South Carolina in capable hands—her husband and former President Bill Clinton, who won the state '92 and '96.

Edwards continued, "Right after the debate she flew out and she's been gone and she won't be back until I don't know -- later in the week or until primary day. And the question is: if she's not going to spend time here the week before the South Carolina primary, what do you think the chances are she's coming back after the primary? And what are the chances she's coming back when she's president of the United States?"

Edwards has been campaigning in South Carolina since Saturday evening. He will be in the state through this weekend's primary.

"You can't just think you're voting in this primary on Saturday and then it's all over. We got a long way to go," said Edwards.

"It doesn't do any good to nominate somebody who's not going to win next November. We have to have a candidate who's going to win next November."