Clinton replaces campaign manager in U.S. race

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House hopeful Hillary Clinton said on Sunday she has replaced her campaign manager with a long-time aide as she fights a tight race with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Maggie Williams, a top aide to Clinton when her husband Bill Clinton was U.S. president, has taken over from Patti Solis Doyle as campaign manager.

Aides to Clinton, a New York senator who would be the first woman president, played down any notion that the staff change was a signal of trouble for her campaign.

Solis Doyle will move into the role of senior adviser to Clinton during the remaining state-by-state races for the Democratic nomination to contest the presidential election in November.

"Patti Solis Doyle has done an extraordinary job in getting us to this point," Clinton said in a statement. "I'm lucky to have Maggie on board and I know she will lead our campaign with great skill towards the nomination."

Clinton did not spell out why Solis Doyle was being replaced. The move comes as Obama, an Illinois senator, has picked up momentum in the race, raking in millions in campaign contributions and scoring wins in three states on Saturday.

Speaking of the decision to replace Solis Doyle, Clinton campaign spokesman Doug Hattaway said it was a change in "day-to-day management," but would not lead to a reshaping of Clinton's message.

"She's focused on the issues that affect people's lives, like the economy and health care," he said.