(FORTUNE Magazine) – ''Here comes the A team!'' rejoiced a GOP politico over the arrival of James Baker III to head the floundering campaign of Vice President George Bush. The Treasury Secretary and longtime Bush adviser will bring with him political brains, managerial brawn, and a team of top-notch strategists determined to turn Michael Dukakis's no-issue campaign on its head. Says former Reagan campaign manager John Sears: ''It's time for Republicans to focus on issues like the economy. And this is the man to do it.'' Although his title is to be chairman, Baker will be the campaign's hands-on operating chief, eclipsing campaign manager Lee Atwater, vice presidential chief of staff Craig Fuller, and pollster Robert Teeter, who have shared responsibilities. A single top dog should help eliminate much of the disorganization and indecisiveness that have fettered the campaign. Baker's immediate challenge, according to pros in both parties, will be to sharpen voters' impressions of what Bush stands for. The candidate will continue to attack Dukakis's liberalism, but that alone isn't effective. Says conservative political analyst Kevin Phillips: ''It's a mistake tearing down the other guy if your guy's image is not strong.'' Bush's new accent on specifics will seek to draw a stark contrast to Dukakis, who has blurred his positions in order to broaden his base. After the convention, with Baker's help, Bush plans to make his first major economic policy speech. Says Fuller: ''We must keep voters riveted on prosperity, the record of the last seven years, and Bush's plan for the next eight. The Treasury Secretary brings an added emphasis to these issues.'' Baker's arrival is well timed. The Bush campaign's much publicized money troubles are finally over. Between entering the race and the nominating convention, federal law limits a candidate to spending $23 million on campaigning and $4.6 million on fund raising (amounts for accounting and legal work are unlimited). Bush had only $1.1 million for his final six pre- convention weeks, while Dukakis had $2.3 million with two weeks to go. The main reasons: Bush had to fight far better financed primary opponents, and the Republican convention comes four weeks later than the Democrats'. But the later GOP convention gives Bush a little-noted financial advantage in the general election. Both candidates have equal amounts available, $46 million of federal money and up to $8.3 million from the parties. But the Republican nominee will have 29 fewer days over which to spread his funds.