Trump injects new faces to boost faltering campaign

From Lalit K Jha Washington, Aug 17 (PTI) A rattled Donald Trump todayrejigged his campaign for the second time in two months byintroducing fresh faces, including a CEO, to propel hisfaltering presidential bid after recent polls showed himlagging behind rival Hillary Clinton. The Republican presidential nominee hired as CEO StephenBannon, the executive chairman of the conservative websiteBreitbart News, and promoting one of his advisers – KellyanneConway – to the post of campaign manager. The rejig comes 82 days ahead of the November 8 election. Bannon has temporarily stepped down from his role atBreitbart News to work full-time with the Trump campaign. Thenew position has been designed to bolster "the business-likeapproach" of the billionaire tycoon’s campaign, according to amedia release. Conway is a nationally-respected pollster and Republicancampaign strategist. He is the founder and president of ThePolling Company/WomanTrend, a privately held, woman-ownedcorporation. "They are extremely capable, highly-qualified people wholove to win and know how to win," the 70-year-old Trump said. "I believe we’re adding some of the best talents inpolitics, with the experience and expertise needed to defeatHillary Clinton in November and continue to share my messageand vision to ‘Make America Great Again’," he added. The announcement come at a significantly important stagefor the presidential campaigns, with the first major TV ad buyslated to start later this week and with additional top-flightoperatives joining the movement on a near-daily basis. The reposition also comes at a particularly intriguingtime for Trump as he has been trailing Democratic Partycandidate Clinton both nationally and in key states. Recent polls have showed Clinton consolidating herposition among youths and millennial who had supported BernieSanders, her rival in the Democratic race. Bannon, who was once recognized by Bloomberg Politics asthe "most dangerous political operative in America," willoversee the campaign staff and operations in addition tostrategic oversight of major campaign initiatives. Bannon holds a Masters in National Security Studies fromGeorgetown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Breitbart News, Bannon was an Officer inthe US Navy and owned an investment bank that he sold toSociete Generale. Conway, a sought-after pollster, will work on messagingand travel frequently with Trump, while working closely withBannon and campaign chairman Paul Manafort. In the shake-up, Manafort retains his role as chairman andchief strategist. US media has, however, termed it a demotionfor him. "The staffing change, hammered out on Sunday and set to beformally announced Wednesday morning, was seen by some as ademotion for Manafort," The New York Times said. "It’s an expansion at a busy time in the final stretch ofthe campaign," Conway was quoted as saying by The Times. In June, Trump fired Corey Lewandowski as his campaignmanager nearly a month before he was to secure thepresidential nomination at the July Republican convention. PTILKJ ABH AKJABH