Politico: Hagan on the attack

A Politico article says Kay Hagan is playing hardball.

The story contrasts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's "Southern charm" with her Democratic rival's attacks on Dole's effectiveness and Washington connections.

Speaking at an agribusiness forum, Dole runs through her accomplishments on immigration, tobacco and biofuels, making homespun, folksy jokes along the way.

Then Hagan steps to the mike and blasts away, sounding more like a candidate for the New York City Council than the Carolina native that she is. 

The article notes that Hagan is trying to nationalize the race, connecting Dole to President Bush and using tactics honed by Sen. Charles Schumer, while Dole is trying to keep her distance from national politics.

But the story gives Dole perhaps too much credit for not fighting back.

At a debate before the N.C. Bar Association, Dole lit into Hagan on taxes with a rat-a-tat closing statement and her recent ad compares her to a yappy dog. 

That's a little more steel than magnolia.