Senate Finance Committee Charity Analyst Joins Obama Campaign

The Senate Finance Committee has temporarily lost a key philanthropy specialist, Kristin Bailey, to Sen. Barack Obama’s Democratic presidential campaign.

Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat who chairs the committee, hired Ms. Bailey last year as a policy analyst specializing in tax-exempt organizations including charities and foundations. She has taken a leave of absence to serve as a field organizer for Mr. Obama in Montana until after the November 4 election.

Most of her duties will be handled by Matt Slonaker, another committee staff member, until she returns, a committee spokesman said.

Senator Baucus’s chief of staff, Jim Messina, has also taken a leave of absence to work for the Obama campaign. He was appointed chief of staff to the Obama national campaign in June.

John Selib, former legislative director for Senator Baucus, is now serving as his acting chief of staff.

The Montana senator, whose committee oversees charitable organizations, is himself up for reelection in November, but his seat is considered safe.