In the face of recent developments, the Weld campaign has already begun restructuring in order to meet the challenge.

Newcomer Stephen Tocco, who joined the Weld campaign a week before the convention, said he will take on the role of general consultant, thus essentially providing campaign manager John Moffitt with a comanager.

"We're probably going to pull this off as a joint venture," Tocco said, explaining that he would handle organization, allowing Moffitt to concentrate on packaging Weld's positions.

Tocco added that Tisei, currently Weld's campaign chair, plans to expand his involvement in helping direct the campaign.

"Richard is seriously considering taking a more active role in the campaign and that would be welcomed," Tocco said.

Howell would not comment in detail on the changes, except to say that there have been no final decisions.

But despite the campaign shakeup, Weld backers remain optimistic, maintaining that they expected a strong anti-abortion lobby to cost them votes at the convention. The primary, they say, will be a different race.

"Spring training is over. Pierce won the grapefruit league," said Celluci. "Now we're into the regular season. I don't see the dynamics of the primary changing very much."