(Updates with staff list)
They say you can make your reputation based on the people you choose to associate with. That sort of philosophy is making new online politics site The Politico the hot place to be.

The site, scheduled for launch on Jan. 23, 2007, started off with John Harris and Jim VandeHei, two of The Washington Post’s A-list reporters when it comes to political coverage. Now they’re going for an even more gold-plated name: Mike Allen.

Allen comes from Time magazine, which he originally left the Post to join. (Incidentally, Time is getting one of the Post’s other hottest properties in the form of reporter David von Drehle)

Allen’s addition to the ranks, along with U.S. News & World Report chief political correspondent Roger Simon and some stalwarts from The Hill, shows that the online political site published by Allbritton Communications Co., is backing up its desire to challenge traditional media with some of the old school’s brightest stars.

Political junkies will be keeping track of two races this time around — the one among the presidential candidates and the competition between the old media and the new.

Politico’s list of new hires:

John Harris, Editor in Chief, formerly of The Washington Post
Jim VandeHei, Executive Editor, formerly of The Washington Post
Marty Tolchin, Senior Publisher and Editor, formerly of The New York Times 
Bruce Drake, Managing Editor, formerly of National Public Radio
Patrick O’Connor, Staff Writer, formerly of The Hill
John Bresnahan, Staff Writer, formerly of Roll Call
Joesephine Hearn, Staff Writer, formerly of The Hill 
Roger Simon, Chief Political Columnist, formerly of Bloomberg News
Mike Allen, Chief Political Correspondent, formerly of Time Magazine
Christian Lowe, Senior Staff Writer, Army Times
Anne Schroeder, Gossip Columnist, formerly of Capitol File 
Andrew Glass, Senior Editor, formerly of Cox Newspapers 
David Mark, Political Editor, formerly of Campaigns & Elections Magazine
Dana Wells, Assistant Editor, formerly of The Hill
Kenneth P. Vogel, Senior Staff Writer, formerly of The News Tribune
(Tacoma, Wash.) 
Helena Andrews, Staff Writer, formerly of The New York Times
Jean Chemnick, Staff Writer, formerly of CQ
Jeffrey Patch, Staff Writer, formerly of The Des Moines Register
Daniel Reilly, Staff Writer, formerly of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 
Carrie Sheffield, Staff Writer, formerly of The Hill
Amy Doolittle, Staff Writer, formerly of The Washington Times
Ryan Grim, Staff Writer, formerly of The Washington City Paper
Kim Kingsley, Media Director, formerly of The Washington Post 
Katie Gilchrist, Copy Editor, formerly of Tax Notes
Ta’Mara Blake, Administrative Assistant, formerly of Head Start
Samantha Slater, Editorial Assistant, formerly of CQ