Cornered Renzi changes tack in Italy's high stakes reform campaign

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi speaks next Italian German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not seen) and French President Francois Hollande (not seen) during a news conference on the Italian aircraft carrier Garibaldi off the coast of Ventotene island, central Italy, August 22, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

ROME (Reuters) - Having pegged his political future to a referendum on constitutional reform, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called up President Barack Obama's communications maestro Jim Messina for advice on how to win the do-or-die vote.

Messina, who led Obama's successful 2012 re-election campaign, met Renzi's inner circle in late July to discuss what they should do to regain the initiative after opinion polls showed the Italian leader faced defeat.