I'm not so sure it's as much "willing" to play Hardball as "able" to play. I think Obama demonstrated a willingness when he made the lipstick crack, but balked when he got called on it. He would have gained a lot of respect if he'd said "Hell Yeah I said it." Instead, he reverted to the old "Barack who cried Rove" mode.

This is exactly why I voted for the Bull Dyke in the primary.