Former RNC head joins Romney campaign

WASHINGTON, April 5 (UPI) -- Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie joined GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's campaign as a volunteer strategist, Romney aides said.

Gillespie won't replace any existing Romney aides but will offer advice to Romney on general-election messaging and RNC convention planning, the Boston Globe reported Thursday.

"I am pleased that Ed is joining my team," Romney said in a statement. "He brings a wealth of experience that will prove invaluable in the political battle that lies ahead. Barack Obama is building a $1 billion campaign war machine, and Ed will play an important role in countering it."

Meanwhile, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has already slashed his campaign staff and appearances to the bone, suffered another financial blow: His healthcare think tank filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the Atlantic Business Chronicle reported.

The Center for Health Transformation, with offices in Washington, Atlanta and St. Louis, plans to liquidate its assets, the filing entered Wednesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta indicated.

The center listed estimated liabilities of $1 million-$10 million, and 50 to 90 creditors.

Political observers said the negative publicity surrounding the bankruptcy could snuff Gingrich's presidential campaign.

"This ends his campaign," Emory University political science professor Merle Black told the business journal. "He'll now be completely on the defensive about this."

But Stefan Passantino, national counsel for the Gingrich campaign, said the bankruptcy happened after Gingrich divested himself of involvement in the think tank's operation last May in preparation to run for president.

"I don't think this hurts his ability to run for president," Passantino said. "If anything, it shows the importance of his leadership while he was there."