KASIE HUNT
and KEN THOMAS
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Republican Mitt Romney will spend the coming weeks trying to tell voters how he plans to govern the country, shifting his strategy in recognition of demand from voters that the GOP nominee outline his vision for the future instead of just criticizing Democratic President Barack Obama.
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie outlined the new tack in a conference call with reporters Monday, saying voters are “eager” to hear more about Romney’s specific policy proposals.
Voters “know that he has a plan, which is a good thing, but we also know that they’d like to know a little bit more of the specifics, and we’re going to meet the demands,” Gillespie said.
With just 50 days until the election, Romney launched a new round of TV ads and planned a renewed focus on policy in speeches and campaign appearances. The new emphasis follows increasingly vocal criticism from Republicans who have suggested their nominee is running a timid and vague campaign. The push, aimed at easing those fears, comes as key Romney aides have also been tasked with leading a behind-the-scenes effort to calm dissension in the ranks and reassure nervous donors and consultants about the state of the campaign.
Still, campaign aides were unable to identify any new policy proposals that would be included in the push. Romney has been advocating a five-point economic plan since returning from a trip to Europe in July. Gillespie said Romney would re-emphasize plans to encourage energy independence by renewing the Keystone XL pipeline, cut the deficit by limiting the growth of government programs and lower taxes across the board without shifting more of the tax burden to the middle class. But Gillespie, pressed for details, could not identify loopholes Romney’s tax plan might close to keep that tax promise or point to any government departments that might be cut to reduce deficit spending.
“We’re not rolling out new policies … so much as we are making sure people understand when we say we can do these things, here’s how we’re going to get them done and these are the specifics,” Gillespie said.
In newly published public opinion polls, Romney has lost the edge he held over Obama as the candidate better able to handle the federal budget deficit and taxes. Romney pollster Neil Newhouse attributed Obama’s gains on the deficit spending issue to the overall bump the president received after the Democratic convention at the beginning of September. But on taxes, Newhouse acknowledged Romney needs to do more to distinguish himself from the president.
“I’m not sure that voters really understand the differences between the plans Mitt Romney has and Obama has,” Newhouse said. “And I think that’s one thing we’re committed to trying to do in moving forward is defining the differences between the two candidates on taxes.”
Romney’s campaign advisers  said they plan to broaden focus from just the economy, including a planned speech on education policy and a focus on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
“Economic and foreign policy are both very important in this presidential campaign. We will also take opportunities to take advantage of specific venues or events to address significant issues that we don’t always hit as part of the Romney plan but are part of his policy agenda,” Gillespie said.