A national Republican group is airing ads on behalf of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

The ad by the National Republican Senatorial Committee attacks Democratic rival Kay Hagan, playing off the Olympics to show Hagan winning gold medals for "financial irresponsibility" among other things.

Hagan spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said the ad belies Dole's statements that she wants to run a positive campaign and her appeal to Hagan to avoid third-party ads.

"We just felt from the very beginning that this pledge was completely disingenuous," Flanagan said.

Dole spokesman Hogan Gidley said that Hagan's "shady, ultra-liberal friends" have spent $2.3 million on ads attacking Dole to date. 

The Demcratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a 527 group called Majority Action and MoveOn.org are airing ads attacking Dole. The U.S. Chamber is running ads for Dole.

Democratic sources say the NRSC is spending about $300,000 on the ad. (Char-O)