The city's political class was abuzz last week about former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg acting more and more like he wants to run against fellow Democrat Jim Hahn. The election for mayor is a bit more than a year off. Rick Orlov surfaces the talk in his Daily News notes column today.

Hertzberg, who has been part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's transition team, has not been shy about his interest in running for mayor, calling around the city to gauge support.

Much of his strategy rests on whether Councilman Bernard Parks does get into the race -- a decision expected next month -- and the prospective candidacy of others, who might feel pressured if they see Hahn as vulnerable.

Hahn has a lot of money banked away, but not much else seems to be going right for him. He needed the Valley to win the first time, but since then the Daily News hammered him during the secession fight. Hahn goes out onto Hertzberg's turf to give the mayor's annual State of the Valley speech on Thursday.