From this morning's Earlybird.

• "The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is putting the petroleum industry and its top lobbyist, Jack Gerard, on the defensive after months in which the industry appeared to have the political wind at its back," the Wall Street Journal reports.

• "An offshore drilling company tied to the massive Gulf oil spill," Transocean Ltd., "is boosting its lobbying and public-relations team as the number of congressional inquiries expands," The Hill reports.

• "Lobbyists who pursue congressional earmarks are planning a public-relations campaign to defend the practice, as voters signal they no longer want lawmakers to direct millions of federal dollars to pet projects back home," The Hill also reports.