Feb 26 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's first budget is his clearest opportunity to date to put U.S. money where his mouth is by establishing priorities for his new administration.

The proposals will be submitted to the U.S. Congress, which will put its own stamp on the budget. [nN26448503]

Here are some winners and losers in the draft submitted to Congress on Thursday, according to senior administration officials:

WINNERS

* THE BANKING INDUSTRY. The budget sets aside $250 billion as a "placeholder" if Obama decides to ask Congress for more money to help the troubled U.S. financial system. Officials said such a decision has yet to be made.

* CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY. The budget includes billions of dollars in revenues, starting in 2012 and lasting many years, from a greenhouse gas emissions trading system, one of Obama's key proposals to fight global warming.

* HEALTHCARE OVERHAUL. The budget includes a 10-year, $634-billion reserve fund to help pay for the president's proposed healthcare reforms.

* PUBLIC WORKS. Officials are trying to jolt the faltering economy in the face of 14 months of recession with public-works spending.

* MIDDLE CLASS. Tax cuts would benefit the U.S. middle class.