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Donald Trump

WASHINGTON. – US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump moved to overhaul his troubled campaign yesterday, hiring the head of conservative website Breitbart News as chief executive officer and promoting a seasoned political operative to a senior role. Stephen Bannon, the combative executive chairman of Breitbart, was named CEO, the Trump campaign said in a statement.It also said Kellyanne Conway, who has been an adviser, will take on the role of campaign manager.

The leadership changes come as opinion polls show Trump, a wealthy New York businessman, falling behind Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the race for president.

Trump, who has never held elected office, has been facing a barrage of criticism from Republicans over his freewheeling campaign style and his refusal to stick to a policy message.

He came under fire for his prolonged feud with the Muslim family of a US soldier who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq and for his unfounded accusation that President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were co-founders of the Islamic State militant group. Trump later backed off the comments about Islamic State.

The campaign’s announcement quotes Trump as saying he was “committed to doing whatever it takes to win” the election on November 8.

The campaign also said it will make its first major television commercial purchase later this week.

The staff changes, first reported in the Wall Street Journal, mark the second time in two months Trump has shifted the leadership in his campaign. – AFP.