Top Craig Fund-Raiser Also Serves State Groups But Watchdog Group Says Practice Is Ok If Done On Private Time

Each afternoon, Al Henderson walks about a block from his government office in downtown Boise to the campaign headquarters of U.S. Sen. Larry Craig.

In a few steps, he changes from public servant - the man who coordinates Senate efforts on behalf of Idaho civic groups - to political operative, the man raising the $1 million-plus it will cost to re-elect Craig.

He wears the two hats legally. But Democrats cry foul, saying the arrangement is designed to keep Henderson’s campaign skills at the disposal of the GOP and has little to do with public service. Henderson is the only person who has ever headed the Senate Resources Center, created in 1991 by Craig and fellow Republican Sen. Dirk Kempthorne.

Republicans, who control the state’s four congressional seats and the governor’s office, insist they are following the rules. And they say Democrats would do the same thing if they could.

A spokesman for the watchdog Public Interest Research Group agrees.

“He’s doing what others do, and I don’t think anyone is saying people who work for government can’t work on political campaigns as long as they don’t do it with government resources,” said Derek Cressman, director of Americans Against Political Corruption.

Senate rules allow staff members to engage in campaign activity on their own time. Henderson was volunteering for Craig’s re-election earlier this year while retaining his full-time Senate staff post, Craig’s campaign disclosure reports show.