Prosecution rests in Edwards trial

>>> back in this country, prosecutors at the john edwards corruption trial rested their case today with new evidence about the money trail to cover up this affair, and some stunning testimony about the candidate's seemingly blind ambition . again tonight, lisa myers has our report from greensboro, north carolina .

>> prosecutors closed their case with a portrait of john edwards as a man so full of deceit and hubris that he tried to broker a deal as president obama 's running mate even as his pregnant mistress, rielle hunter, was being spirited around the country to keep her out of sight. leo hendry , a former edwards adviser testified that the day obama won the iowa caucuses in 2008 --

>> thank you, iowa.

>> edwards had him approach the obama campaign about joining the ticket as vice president. mr. edwards believed it important that mrs. clinton not be the nominee and said that would be a disaster, hendry said. hendry also said a few weeks later, shortly before rielle hunter gave birth, edwards was weighing whether to endorse obama or clintb inspied of his disdain for clinton and had him convey hismousage that edwards would like to be attorney general and he had him discuss an elaborate long term goal to be a supreme court justice .

>> it came across as john edwards was detached from reality. whether it was because of hubris or he was deluded can be debated.

>> prosecutors played for the jury edwards ' interview in 2008 in which he admitted the affair but lied about other things, including his own daughter.

>> i know it's not possible that this child could be mine because of the timing of events.

>> edwards stared at the video, sometimes closing his eyes. some analysts believe there's still a gaping hole in the government's case. and that it is not presented clear evidence, that edwards knew that expenditures to hide his mistress were a violation of campaign finance law. lisa myers , nbc news, greens greensboro, north carolina .