With a likely loss looming in Wisconsin, GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump's campaign is in disarray and he is laying off staff,
Politico reports.
Since March the campaign has been shedding field staff in large numbers in states that already have voted, and is taking apart the organizations in swing states such as Florida and Ohio.
Among the layoffs: Matt Braynard, who headed Team Trump's data team. He was replaced by a second-in-command who doesn't have much experience in high-level political strategy, Politico notes. And some of the data team's responsibilities were given to a 2015 college graduate whose last job was an internship at Colgate-Palmolive.
Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski denied the campaign is falling apart or has low morale.
As a result, the campaign is not able to access some of its own data.
"Presidential campaigns are a team sport, and he doesn’t have that mentality," a high-level GOP operative told Politico. "That's why they're missing a lot of these opportunities that are passing them by. [Trump] might be a great quarterback, but every quarterback still needs a strong offensive line."
Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski denied the campain is falling apart or has low morale.
"We have the most cohesive, loyal staff, the most loving staff I have ever had the privilege of working with on a campaign," Lewandowski told Politico.
Though some staff have been let go, Lewandowski said that was simply "the nature of a campaign," and that most of their top talent had been retained or offered other jobs.
"Just like a real corporation, the people who are doing the best and want to continue on, they’re given that opportunity," he said. "Some people don’t want to move for family reasons or whatever it may be. And then, some people, based on performance have been not given the privilege of moving."
But one person who left the campaign expressed concerns.
"I believe that Donald Trump has the backbone to fix this country, but if changes are not made soon at the top, I am fairly convinced that he will lose," the person said, citing sinking morale among the campaign staff because of layoff's and Lewandowski's outbursts of profanity in calls.
"I don’t think Mr. Trump knows what"s happening on his campaign," the person said. "[E]veryone is in astonishment of what's going on. It's almost like they're sabotaging themselves."