Republicans point out that they are not the sole practitioners of political hardball.

So Democrats - as the president's supporters pointed out - were playing political hardball of their own.

For the first time in his career he was willing to play "political hardball" to see it through.

Each city plays political hardball, but each in its own way.

The Bush administration strongly showed that it was willing to play political hardball in pushing its tax cut proposal.

To be sure, political hardball is one factor.

For some the church's image has been badly damaged by the political hardball of the abortion debate.

The executives sued on the grounds that they were denied contracts because of political hardball.

Nevertheless, he is taking them seriously enough to resort to political hardball.

The Speaker has played political hardball on the issue, noting that he was near retirement and had little to lose.