Senator Clinton has made several key staff hires for her likely presidential bid and in her outreach to New York Democrats convinced at least one she soon would become a candidate.

“I don’t think she ever outright said it, but there’s no doubt in my mind that she’s going to run,” said Rep. Joseph Crowley, who spoke with Mrs. Clinton on Monday. “It was a very exciting and exhilarating conversation. I don’t know how often it happens in a lifetime when someone calls you up and says, ‘I want you to know I’m doing this and I want your support.'”

The New York senator, who tops every national poll of likely Democratic candidates, had tried to keep private many of her overtures to supporters and new staff. The deliberations have started to become more public in the last week as the field of likely contenders has begun to expand.

In head-to-head matchups against a leading potential GOP opponent, Senator McCain, Mrs. Clinton runs even with the Arizona senator or slightly behind him.

Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack declared his candidacy last week, and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh said Sunday he was forming a presidential exploratory committee.

The Clinton team has added several top staff members. Karen Hicks, a veteran field organizer who served as New Hampshire director for Howard Dean’s upstart 2004 campaign, will come aboard as Clinton’s national field director. Phil Singer, a veteran of John Kerry’s presidential campaign who most recently was spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, will join the communications team. The campaign has also signed a national finance director, veteran Democratic fund-raiser Jonathan Mantz.