DURBIN PUSHING BARACK TO RUN AS OBAMA HEADS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D) is urging his fellow senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, to seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

Durbin has started an online site to petition Obama to get into the race.

Chicago Sun Times columnist Lynn Sweet takes a look at the politics behind the move, and how Durbin stands to gain.

Meanwhile, Obama is packing his bags for a trip to New Hampshire early next month, where he'll be attending a Democratic Party victory bash.

HOPEFULS STAFFING UP IN EARLY-PRIMARY STATES

Massachusetts' Republican Gov. Mitt Romney is lining up supporters in the early primary states, hiring South Carolina political strategist Warren Tompkins as his senior Southeast advisor.

Meanwhile, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack has lined up support in New Hampshire from Gary Hirshberg, an activist and donor.

ANOTHER PATAKI DEFECTION

Departing New York Gov. George Pataki, in another sign his bid for the GOP nimination is going nowhere fast, lost another supporter in Iowa. Craig Schoenfeld stepped down as executive director of Pataki's PAC in the state. That's two defections from the Pataki camp in Iowa in about a week's time.