Republican staff of the Senate Budget Committee say presidential hopeful and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has requested more than $300 million in new spending for the next fiscal year, highlighting how presidential politics is alive and well in the Senate.

According to an article today by CQ.com, Obama's requests for the fiscal year 2009 budget resolution would create 158 new programs. No specifics were given but Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee, of which Obama is not a member, say it's a good sign that someone is running for higher office and wants to appeal to as many constituents as possible.

Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., ranking member of the committee, told reporters that the Republican staff was combing through Obama's proposals, and will likely do the same for Sen. Hillary Clinton's requests, though at this time they were still looking for a rhyme to match "Obama's Spend-O-Rama."The Senate budget resolution is non-binding and merely sets guidelines and priorities for the annual appropriations process and will likely fuel the upcoming debate on tax policy later this year.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was close to locking down the Republican nomination for president, will likely have his spending proposals scrutinized, too, by the Democratic committee staff. McCain has built his Senate career on framing himself as a spending watchdog.

Click here to read the CQ.com story.