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Sen. Kay Hagan is absolutely right: It would not have been in North Carolina's best interests to replace U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding. At least not now.

To remove Holding, who has begun investigations of former Gov. Mike Easley and former Sen. John Edwards, both Democrats, at this point would have been bad timing and even worse public policy.

Holding, a Bush appointee, is expected to be succeeded by an Obama nominee. Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, has formed a panel to consider possible candidates. But Republicans rightly insisted that Holding should stay put long enough to finish what he has begun. That includes a probe into a series of private plane trips for which Easley did not pay, as well as a high-paying job created for his wife, Mary, at N.C. State. Also under way is an equally high-profile investigation into whether Edwards, a former presidential candidate, illegally channeled campaign funds to a woman with whom he had an affair.

Hagan said Wednesday: "Once it came to light that these investigations were being done, I made the decision to ask for a delay."

When asked when she might hear, Hagan added, "It is ultimately their decision and they are considering my request. I don't tell them what time to get back to me."

If the White House is serious about bipartisanship, it should get back soon, and say yes. Even so, some Democrats still may be eager to see Holding go. Among the objects of his investigations, and those of his predecessor, Frank Whitney: former U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance, former Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps and former House Speaker Jim Black, all Democrats, and all of whom went to prison.

Of course, the president is well within his rights to replace Holding with whom he pleases, when he pleases, so long as the Senate approves. Hagan, fortunately, has asked him to wait.

If other Democrats truly care about addressing corruption in Raleigh, especially their own party's dubious record, they should be happy she did.