The Washington Post sent a reporter to an eastern N.C. tobacco field over the weekend for its story about Sen. Kay Hagan, the only Democrat in the Senate to oppose FDA regulation of tobacco.

"To call Hagan merely a defender of the "golden leaf" industry would be an understatement," the Post wrote. "She is among tobacco's fiercest backers."

The reporter spent time with farmer Pender Sharp, who raises 500 acres of leaf and was among the farmers who lobbied in Washington before last week’s vote.

Hagan, though, was on a personal trip and unavailable to comment for the story.