Baucus Chief of Staff Leaves for Obama Campaign

WASHINGTON – Montana Sen. Max Baucus’ chief of staff is leaving to fill the same position for Democrat Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

Jim Messina served as campaign manager for Baucus in 1996 and 2002 and is his Washington aide. Legislative director Jonathan Selib will become the senator’s acting chief of staff.

Obama’s campaign named several new senior advisers on Monday, including Patti Solis Doyle, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s former campaign manager, and Stephanie Cutter, communications director to Sen. John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign. Doyle will serve as chief of staff to Obama’s yet-to-be-chosen running mate, while Cutter will be a senior adviser to Obama and chief of staff to Obama’s wife, Michelle.

Obama clinched the nomination on June 3.

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