Conservative vs. conservative

If delegates to the state GOP convention had any question about who to support for delegates and alternates to the national convention in the Twin Cities, all they had to do was look at the huge red banners flanking the convention stage here in Rochester.

The banners proclaimed the "Conservative Team," which includes the likes of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Sen. Norm Coleman, a handful of legislators and uber blogger Michael Brodkorb.

But the team was challenged by an alternative slate called the "Conservative Conscience Coalition," which, according to delegate Tom Conlon, represents party members who want the GOP to return to its core principles of liberty, economic freedom and prosperity.

"New people is a healthy thing, and we're a big-tent party," said Conlon, a St. Paul school board member who has long flown the Republican banner in the DFL-dominated city.

The coalition slate, Conlon said, is a grass-roots effort directed at those who want to "keep conservative values" in the party.

Brodkorb suggested the slate was a front office for Ron Paul supporters, although Conlon said that he's a McCain supporter (by way of Mike Huckabee).

"I would challenge greatly whether [the Conservative Conscience] slate is more conservative than ours," said Brodkorb, who was recently profiled in the New York Times for unearthing Al Franken's workers compensation and tax problems.

"A fragmented vote opens the door for the organized minority to have much more voice and control than their numbers justify," the letter warns.

That incensed Anderson, who called the chairwoman of Paul's Minnesota campaign to apologize.

"This is not what our party is about. This should be an open process," Anderson said. "We need to rebuild our party. We lost the '06 elections for a reason."

KEVIN DUCHSCHERE, MARK BRUNSWICK

Last winter, when John McCain's political fortunes were ebbing, so were Ben Golnik's.

Now Golnik is back as McCain's regional campaign manager for a territory stretching from Minnesota to Idaho. Because the rest of the region is reliably red, Golnik figures he'll spend most of his time in Minnesota.

Wearing a red McCain baseball cap, he roamed the state convention floor on Friday, feeling good about his guy's chances.

On Monday, the McCain campaign will open an office on Transfer Road in St. Paul. Golnik says that up to 10 staffers will be hired in the next week. And the senator himself is planning a trip to the Twin Cities on June 19.

"We feel pretty good," Golnik said.

From the Captive Audience Department: National delegate candidate Greg O'Connor had a unique method of getting his message across at the Republican Party's state convention in Rochester: strategically placed cards atop the men's rooms urinals at the civic center, featuring a picture of O'Connor with Oliver North. O'Connor's issues: small government, low taxes, strong military defense, local control of education, and secured borders. He was not elected.