Messina chosen for Obama campaign job

WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) -- Jim Messina has been hired to be campaign chief for likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, sources told The Washington Post.

The Post reported Messina will move his job as chief of staff for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., to campaign chief of staff for Obama, D-Ill., where he will share the day-to-day responsibilities for Obama's presidential campaign with current manager David Plouffe.

The newspaper said Messina and Plouffe will work together to coordinate the field operation Obama has built, with one source telling the Post that Plouffe will remain at the top of the leadership ladder and Messina will report to him.

Messina has worked as campaign manager for Baucus since 1996.