Obama, Clinton poised to show their hands soon

Friday, January 12th 2007, 6:12 pm

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, a pair of front-runners in waiting, have shown fresh signs in recent days of joining the 2008 race, hiring senior aides while they court potential supporters in Iowa, New Hampshire and other key states.

Obama has hired policy, research and press staff for a campaign to be run from Chicago, according to several Democrats. And a senior aide to the senator, Steve Hildebrand, recently told potential Iowa supporters that word of his plans could come early next week, state party spokeswoman Erin Seidler said Friday.

Obama also has held several conversations with Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., according to the congressman's spokeswoman. Clinton also has spoken to the influential South Carolina Democrat.

Iowa's caucuses will kick off the nominating campaign in January 2008, to be followed by caucuses in Nevada and primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Clinton, who is on a weekend trip to Iraq, also has hired staff, met with activists and tried to settle on a Washington-area location for her campaign headquarters.

The moves by the two come as Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd launched his campaign on Thursday and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson prepared to make an announcement before the end of the month.

Obama and Clinton would clearly be the Democratic field's heavyweights _ one vying to be the nation's first African-American president, the other seeking to become the country's first female chief executive.

``Senator Obama's putting the final touches on his operation, and is looking at staff. And as far as I can see, he's in race,'' said Donna Brazile, a longtime activist who ran Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign and who's been advising several Democratic hopefuls.

Obama has reached out to party activists in Iowa and Nevada, seeking resumes. Jim Demers, a New Hampshire activist and Obama supporter, said Friday he was poised to help set up Obama's campaign organization there.

Clinton, for her part, could disclose her plans before President Bush's State of the Union address Jan. 23. With more than $14 million in the bank, she also has a significant cash advantage over Obama and the other candidates in the field.