Major Shake-up on Romney Campaign

The Mitt Romney campaign has undergone a major shakeup, with chief strategist Stuart Stevens sidelined and the candidate softening his image and turning his focus more on national addresses.

The impetus for the change came from Romney’s family, particularly his son Tagg, Politico reports.

Romney’s family pushed for a new campaign direction, emphasizing a “more moderate image for the GOP nominee” that portrays Romney as less stiff and willing to compromise, the news site disclosed.

The family held Stevens responsible for allowing Romney’s personality to be buried by an anti-Obama economic message, and Stevens’ campaign efforts have now been confined to mainly the debates and television advertising, while Tagg Romney is taking a much more active role in the campaign.

Senior adviser Ed Gillespie has taken on added responsibility, and Sen. Rob Portman has become a close adviser.

Following Romney’s Monday speech on national security, the campaign may now follow up with a national address on jobs and the economy, then one on debt and spending, and a speech on energy is being considered as well.

Steven objected to the national security speech, Politico also notes, but “he lost the internal fight.”