Hombres y mujeres clave de la campaña de Romney

 

Associated Press:

Romney's inner circle is arguably the same one he'll rely on if he wins in November and moves into the White House. The group has been with him for more than six years, including one failed presidential run. The team is so tight-knit that many of them keep apartments in the same building in Boston, around the corner from the campaign's headquarters on the Charles River.

(...) The risk of relying on longtime loyalists is that campaigns can become insular and unwilling to listen to outsiders.

That explains why Romney recently broadened his inner circle with the addition of Ed Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman with years of general election campaign experience. Gillespie, who was not involved in Romney's primary campaign this year or in 2008, was introduced to the mix gingerly over time and helped out behind the scenes long before the official announcement in April that he had come on board.

(...) A look at Romney's inner circle:

THE FRIEND

-Bob White. He doesn't have an official title, but he's worked with Romney since both were partners at Bain Capital, the private equity firm Romney helped start. Romney called White for help running the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and he's been involved in every one of Romney's political campaigns. He has an office at headquarters and often leads meetings.

THE SAGE

- Ed Gillespie. He's one of the few Romney aides with extensive presidential campaign experience. He headed the Republican National Committee during President George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign and later joined the White House as an adviser. Gillespie is the only senior adviser to join Romney's campaign this year.

THE VEEP VETTER

-Beth Myers. She was Romney's chief of staff during his term as Massachusetts governor. She also ran his 2008 presidential bid and is now leading his search for a vice presidential running mate. Myers is personally close to the candidate and his wife, Ann.

THE ATTACK DOG

-Eric Fehrnstrom. A former newspaper reporter, Fehrnstrom has served as Romney's spokesman since he was governor. He frequently travels with Romney and is considered an authority on Romney's record in Massachusetts.

THE BRIDGE

-Peter Flaherty. He oversees Romney's outreach to the Republican Party's conservative wing. A devout Catholic, Flaherty has deep ties to the evangelical community, as well, and has assiduously courted social conservative activists who have been reluctant to back Romney. Flaherty has worked for Romney for nearly a decade and was deputy chief of staff in the governor's office.

THE TASKMASTER

-Matt Rhoades. The behind-the-scenes campaign manager, Rhoades was Romney's 2008 communications director. His background in opposition research was obvious during the primaries as Romney battered his opponents with TV ads hitting their records on everything from the government-controlled mortgage company Freddie Mac to voting rights for felons.

THE GURUS

-Stuart Stevens and Russ Schriefer. Longtime partners, they are Romney's ad makers and senior strategists. Stevens, the lead speechwriter, is at Romney's side on the campaign trail. Romney frequently calls him after big campaign moments to check in and discuss developments.