NEW YORK - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton met on Sunday with New York's Democratic governor-elect to solicit his support for her likely White House bid, the latest indication she is stepping up plans to join a growing field of potential contenders for 2008.

One rival, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, announced Sunday he was establishing an exploratory committee to raise money for a possible presidential run. He expects to decide over the Christmas holidays whether to seek his party's nomination.

A top aide to Clinton said he did not know when the former first lady would decide about pursuing the presidency or set up an exploratory committee. Clinton aides, however, have begun interviewing possible campaign staffers in recent weeks, Howard Wolfson said.

Clinton, who long has topped national polls of Democratic hopefuls, spent two hours with Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer at his Manhattan home.

“We just had a great, wide-ranging meeting on so many issues that affect the city, the state and the country,” Clinton said as she left the meeting.

Last week she contacted leading state lawmakers, including Democratic Reps. Charles Rangel and Nita Lowey, and the state party chairman, Denny Farrell, to assess her prospects and seek their support.

Clinton's Senate colleague, Chuck Schumer, told reporters Sunday that Clinton had called him to arrange a meeting next week.

But he was coy about the purpose of the get-together.

“She wants to sit down and talk next week, which we're going to do. It could be about legislation. I have no idea what it's about, and until we sit down and talk that's all I'm going to say about it,” said Schumer. He added, “I think she'd make a very good president but let's wait and see. Everyone's sort of jumping the gun.”

Wolfson told The Associated Press that Clinton “is reaching out to her colleagues in the New York delegation and asking for their advice and counsel and their support if she decides to make a run.”