"My politics may be hard, but I'll talk softly with you."

Nope, that's not a lyric from a country-western song, it's the reason Elizabeth Edwards' handlers gave this past week for requesting that a Tucson, Ariz., newspaper assign its female country music critic to interview the wife of Democratic vice presidentialdate John Edwards.

"Political reporters cover this stuff day in and day out," said Sue Walitsky, spokeswoman for the campaign. "We're reaching out to women for a different perspective. There's a softer side to this." There may be, but that doesn't mean you don't have to answer hard questions.

The Arizona Daily Star initially agreed to the request to have music critic Cathalena E. Burch do the interview, but later balked at dancing to that tune and gave the assignment to political reporter C.J. Karamargin.

In Bunning's face

A tactic of Democrat Dan Mongiardo in his bid to unseat U.S. Senator Jim Bunning, R-Kentucky, is to prick Bunning's temper - on camera.

Mongiardo supporters follow Bunning like paparazzi with video cams at campaign stops, hoping the senator will snap and snarl at this pack of hounds. Bunning's staff said the idea is to get something that can be used in a negative ad against him.

Mongiardo wants a face-to-face debate. Bunning, who once said his opponent looked like the sons of Saddam Hussein, has not agreed to a debate.

We think the senator should be willing to bark in the man's face.