Straightforward. Stuffed shirt. Serious. Wonkish. Back in 2006, when she ran for the U.S. Senate, you could tell Barbara Ann Radnofsky was a lawyer. And a real serious lawyer. After two decades in the galleys at monster Houston corporate law firm Vinson & Elkins, she had the credentials -- and by golly, the lash marks to prove it.

But this cycle, as Radnofsky seeks the Democratic nomination for state attorney general, she's trying to lighten up. Give her credit. This video on her campaign web site uses self deprecating humor. She's still oh so serious about things. But she can laugh -- and smile. Wow.

Radnofsky ate GOP incumbent Kay Bailey Hutchison's dust in the 2006 U.S. Senate race. She lost, 62 percent to 36 percent.

Today, though, Radnofsky said she's not a fanciful newcomer. "I'm not going to make 650 campaign trips," she said. "I'm staying on the phone five to six hours a day, raising money. That will be different. I've learned a whole lot."

While Radnofsky wouldn't say how much she hopes to raise and spend, she spent $1.4 million last time. She said she's already raised $550,000 and has "a whole lot of media planned" as she goes after GOP Attorney General Greg Abbott.