CHICAGO - Edwin Eisendrath knows he's fighting an uphill battle running against an incumbent governor with a giant campaign war chest.

But the former Democratic Chicago alderman says he has nothing to fear. The fight is worth it.

Eisendrath, 48, announced in December he would run against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, launching a barrage of attacks against the governor on everything from campaign contributions to education and state pension system funding.

He supported Blagojevich in the 2002 election and had hoped that a Democrat in the governor's mansion would reshape state politics. But Eisendrath said he lost faith in Blagojevich because he failed to keep his promise to clean up Illinois government.

"I just felt so strongly that on ethics, education and the economy we need a change and a change that will move us forward. That's why I decided to take him on in the primary," Eisendrath said.

But his campaign has gotten off to a slower than expected start. The governor has refused to debate him, and hardly acknowledges he even has a Democratic primary opponent.

The college administrator and former teacher also has failed to raise the kind of money it takes to compete with Blagojevich, who has raised more than $15.5 million. As of mid-February, Eisendrath's campaign had brought in just $185,000, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

As a result, polls show Blagojevich with more than a 3-to-1 margin over Eisendrath, and political observers say he has even less of an impact downstate.

John Jackson, a visiting professor at Southern Illinois University's Public Policy Institute, said "there's not really much buzz at all" about Eisendrath downstate.

"A divisive primary can typically hurt the person who staggers to the end, but that is not what is developing in this case," Jackson said. "It will take a Band-Aid for the governor to cover the wounds that have been inflicted."

Eisendrath represented a liberal lakefront ward on the Chicago city council from 1987 to 1993 and lost in a 1990 attempt to unseat U.S Rep. Sidney Yates. He later spent two years overseeing a cleanup of the Chicago Housing Authority while it was under a federal takeover and then helped create an online consortium college. Eisendrath is now vice president for academic affairs at Kendall College in Chicago.

Annie Wang said it did not surprise her when her energetic friend decided to throw his hat back into politics.

"If he believes in something, he will go after that," said Wang, who has known Eisendrath for about eight years. "He always seemed to have that quality. He'll go after that no matter what it takes."

Despite his Chicago-centered past, Eisendrath insists he has reached out to voters in other parts of the state, making campaign stops in cities including Carbondale, Rockford and Urbana.

"South of I-80 people are just plain disappointed, because they feel they elected the governor, and he turned his back on them," he said.

Eisendrath said with three weeks left to go before the March 21 primary, his campaign remains committed. He hopes voters hear his message as less of an attack on Blagojevich and more about what he hopes to accomplish if elected governor.

Eisendrath, who worked as a Chicago Public Schools teacher in the 1980s, wants to change how schools are funded in Illinois by shifting the burden away from property tax payers and raising the minimum amount of money the state doles out on each student annually.

On the economy, Eisendrath said easing the property tax burden will help Illinois attract more businesses that he says are now leery about establishing in the state because they are afraid they will be stuck with a tax bill they cannot afford. He also believes Illinois should pour more money into industries including ethanol, agricultural research and environmental tourism.

Eisendrath has been most vocal on ethics. He has promised not to accept political donations from state contractors if he is elected and not raise campaign funds while serving as governor until more comprehensive ethics reform legislation is passed.

But it may be too late for Eisendrath to penetrate the primary election, said Dick Simpson, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. If people cast their ballot for him, most of the votes will be in protest of Blagojevich, not in favor of Eisendrath, he said.

"I foresee nothing at the moment that could allow Eisendrath (to) win," Simpson said.

Doubt hasn't stopped Eisendrath supporter Karen Fisher from throwing open her home on Saturday to the primary candidate and about 40 others.

"His challenge will help improve government," said Fisher, who lives on Chicago's North Side. "Anyone who has the heart, intelligence and stomach to run against an incumbent should be supported."

During the house party, Eisendrath spoke to the group as they snacked and sipped lemonade and beer. After taking questions, he mingled and talked with several people individually.

Eisendrath, who has called his campaign "grass-roots," said he's made about 70 home appearances over the past couple months and plans to continue meeting with as many people as possible.

Jeannie Balanda, of suburban Berwyn, said after listening to Eisendrath speak at Fisher's home that he seemed genuine and she wished other people had the chance to meet him.

"I think if others had the chance to hear him on the issues, they would say, ‘He makes sense,"‘ Balanda said.

The poll numbers may indicate otherwise, but Eisendrath believes he still has a chance.

"I don't think (the Democratic) leadership is going to deliver its members. I think people are going to go to the polls and think either I like the way things are going or … we can do so much better and here's how. And if that happens, I'm confident.

"When you're fighting for things that are right and when you are fighting for our future, what's there to fear?" he said.

A look at Edwin Eisendrath

NAME - Edwin Eisendrath

AGE - 48

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE - Chicago alderman from 1987 to 1993; lost in a 1990 attempt to unseat U.S Rep. Sidney Yates.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE - Vice president for academic affairs at Kendall College in Chicago since 2003; previously spent two years overseeing the Chicago Housing Authority; was a Chicago Public Schools teacher in the 1980s.

EDUCATION - Bachelor's degree from Harvard University; master's degree in teaching from National-Louis University.

FAMILY - Married to Jennifer Schulze and has three children. They live in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood.