CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitt Romney opened his campaign headquarters in Cambridge Thursday.

Romney also is scrambling to build a campaign staff and bone up on the issues in Massachusetts after spending the last three years organizing the Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Democrats, meanwhile, are changing their strategy now that Romney is in the race and acting Gov. Jane Swift is out.

State Democratic Party chairman Phil Johnston says he expects Sen. John Kerry to take a prominent role in planning strategy and raising money to defeat Romney.

But while Romney has a clear path to the GOP nomination, the Democrats still face the prospect of a bruising primary that could divide the party. There are five Democrats currently in the race. (AP)