Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign is shaking things up.
The campaign plans to lay off one-third of full-time employees and scale back campaign appearances. Additionally, the former House speaker has replaced his campaign manager in order to pursue a “big-choice convention” strategy," a senior official told Politico.
Gingrich has struggled in the Republican nomination race, trailing far behind rivals Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in delegate totals, while his campaign has accumulated more debt than it has cash on hand.
Former campaign manager Michael Krull -- who took over following a high-level mutiny that nearly sunk Gingrich's hopes in June -- stepped down from his post last week, and was replaced by longtime Gingrich staffer Vince Haley. Communications director Joe DeSantis told Politico that Haley will help the campaign get back to "core Gingrich, which is a focus on big ideas and positive solutions."
Though Gingrich has only won two contests this primary season, South Carolina and Georgia, and has failed to keep pace with Rick Santorum among southern voters widely viewed as his base, the candidate and his campaign continue to insist he's in the race for the long haul.
DeSantis said in an email to Politico that the shake-up will help the campaign transition "into an organization appropriate for winning a big-choice convention."
This big choice convention phase will be focused on two goals. 1. Affecting the national dialogue to show that Gingrich is the most capable of defeating Obama, by leading on issues that put the president on defense -– like Newt’s $2.50 Gas Plan; and 2. A parallel communications strategy directly to the delegates.
The Republican National Convention will be held in Tampa, Fla., in August.