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For now, Democrat Kay Hagan has the power and celebrity befitting someone who has just toppled one of America's best-known political women. Come January, as a freshman in the U.S. Senate, she'll have to translate attention into action.

"She'll be visible because of who she's slain, that's for sure," said Andrew Taylor, a political scientist at N.C. State University. "She's the one who brought down Elizabeth Dole, but that and $3.50 will get you a cup of coffee."

Plenty of Hagan's new co-workers already know her. She has been hosted at fundraisers across the country, and she benefited from millions of dollars in advertising from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, run by Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York. Several senators visited the Tar Heel state on her behalf.

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the calls poured in -- from Schumer, and from Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Amy Klobuchar, Ben Nelson and Claire McCaskill. She appeared on the "Today" show. (N&O)

Andy Taylor thinks it will be the usual N.C. fare.

The N.C. State politics professor and ubiquitous academic commentator picks John McCain, Elizabeth Dole and Beverly Perdue to win in North Carolina.

"I have a feeling that it's going to be all 'incumbents' or all the fresh faces—no mixed result," he writes Dome. "Of the two I have a slight hunch that it will be the former—McCain, Dole and Perdue. All very, very close. Not for any particular reason other than a hunch."

Outside money is pouring into North Carolina's races.

N.C. State political science professor Andy Taylor sees several reasons why third-party groups are spending millions attacking U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Republican gubernatorial nominee Pat McCrory.

Close Races: Polls in both the Senate and gubernatorial races are closer than expected, giving national groups hope that they can influence the outcome with a well-timed ad.

Stand by Your Ad: Part of a 2002 campaign law requires candidates to personally approve their ads, but outside groups can run harsh attacks without a backlash.

Contribution Limits: State and federal laws limit the amount donors can give directly to candidates, so some give to third-party groups to further their efforts.

Taylor says that the increasing influence of third-party ads means candidates have less control over their message, but they gain "plausible deniability" on attacks.

"You lose control, which is problematic," he said. "But at the same time, the hits can come in and they're at more than arm's length."

He said the current system is an imperfect compromise.

"I think it's a compromise — satisfactory or not — between two competing values: to make elections transparent and fair but at the same time allow our citizens to participate as much as they want," he said.