Complex sentence: Kirchner soon distanced himself from Duhalde, removing those close to the former president from the government to reduce his political influence, and sought supporters across the social and political spectrum to counter Duhalde's influence in the party.
Split into simpler sentences: Kirchner soon distanced himself from Duhalde, removing those close to the former president from the government to reduce his political influence. He also sought supporters across the social and political spectrum to counter Duhalde's influence in the party.