WASHINGTON -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama was placed under Secret Service protection, the earliest ever for a presidential candidate, the agency said Thursday.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff authorized Obama's protection after consultations with the bipartisan congressional advisory committee, according to Chertoff spokesman Russ Knocke and the Secret Service.
Obama, D-Ill., who frequently draws crowds in the thousands at campaign stops, requested the protection. Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren and Homeland Security officials said they were not aware of any threats to the senator.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters Thursday night that several weeks ago he received information _ some of it with a racial bent _ that made him concerned for Obama's safety. The number of people Obama was attracting at campaign events also worried him, Durbin said.
Durbin said he approached Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., six to eight weeks ago and that Reid and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., went to the Secret Service last week.
"I expressed concern because of my affection for Barack and his family. I've traveled with Obama. I've witnessed enormous crowds," Durbin said. "This is a relief."
According to a senior law enforcement official, the security detail was prompted by general concerns about the safety of a prominent black candidate. Although there was no direct threat to Obama, several factors raised concerns, including some racist chatter on white supremacist Web sites.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the security issue.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., also a presidential candidate, has a Secret Service detail that is provided to all former first ladies.
In the last election, Democratic candidates John Kerry and John Edwards received their protection in February 2004 as they were competing for the party's nomination. Obama's detail comes nine months before the first votes are cast.
Federal law allows candidates to seek protection if they meet a series of standards, including public prominence as measured by polls and fundraising. The members of the congressional advisory committee are the speaker, the House and Senate majority and minority leaders as well as one additional member.
In a Feb. 12 interview with The Associated Press, Obama dismissed concerns about his own security, but he would not answer directly when asked if he had received death threats. Jesse Jackson drew early Secret Service protection because of violent threats during his campaigns for president in the 1980s.
"I face the same security issues as anybody," the Illinois senator told the AP. "We're comfortable with the steps we have taken."
The Secret Service and Homeland Security would not comment on the scope of Obama's protection or provide any other security details. Obama's campaign declined to comment.
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Associated Press writers Beverley Lumpkin in Washington and Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report.
Barack Obama
Today marked a landmark first for the United States Secret Service. Coming nine months before the first Presidential ballots are cast and eighteen months before the actual election, the Secret Service announced that it would place Democratic Senator of Illinois Barack Obama under protection.

''The Washington Post'' and ''The New York Times'' have both reported that although the freshman senator was the one who asked for protection, there was no immediate threat or danger presented that was the cause.

The only other potential presidential candidate currently protected by Secret Service is Senator Hillary Clinton of New York. Senator Clinton is protected because she is a former first lady and wife of former President Bill Clinton.

''The Washington Post'' reports that Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, authorized Obama's Secret Service protection after consultations with the bipartisan congressional advisory committee. Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren did not provide any extra details concerning the matter, saying, "I'm not aware it was based on any threat."