City Pages, a local rag, just published "The 10 most powerful Minnesota Republicans," (you've never heard of) complete with spiffy logo, "The GOPfathers," that looks like the Godfathers.

Many Republicans hope that hosting the party's national convention will signal a resurgence of Republican power in Minnesota. If so, the current will surely pass through the people on these pages—the shadow figures of the state's conservative power base.

Jeff Larson, the CEO of the Mpls/St. Paul Host Committee is one of the ten, City Pages pronounced him, and quite accurately I beleive, "The Quiet Giant."

Jeff Larson is "perhaps the most powerful GOP operative nationwide," says Sarah Janecek. "And he earned it." Many say that he was also the single most important person in bringing the Republican National Convention to St. Paul.

Larson is a powerhouse political consultant, specializing in highly sophisticated and doggedly thorough campaign techniques: telemarketing, email blasts, strategic maps and manuals for campaign foot soldiers, and a host of other obscure and powerful services.

Good thing he's on our side.