It's an open secret that there's not much love between Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), but for the most part Romney has publicly played the good soldier since losing the Republican primary -- even going so far as to mock "eastern elites" during his speech at the GOP convention.

Now, Romney is joining a chorus of Republican voices publicly questioning the direction of McCain's campaign.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, who was a rival of Mr. McCain for the Republican nomination, said Mr. McCain, who has offered scattershot proposals on the economy, should present a broad vision of how he would lead the country through the economic crisis.

“I’m talking about standing above the tactical alternatives that are being considered,” Mr. Romney said, “and establish an economic vision that is able to convince the American people that he really knows how to strengthen the economy.”

The last thing a losing campaign needs is allies second-guessing and talking publicly about the various directions it could go. Is the 2012 hopeful distancing himself from what many consider to be a campaign headed toward defeat?

Or was this just some friendly advice or a trial balloon of sorts?

McCain is scheduled to unveil a new speech on the economy today that his campaign believes "will begin a turnaround for the campaign."