WASHINGTON -- Former Minnesota GOP operative Jeff Larson was largely credited for saving struggling Republicans in 2008 who were trying to plan the Republican National Convention in St. Paul -- even personally paying a bill for more than $130,000 to outfit then veep-nominee Sarah Palin.
On Wednesday, he was tapped again by the Republican National Committee to run the 2016 four-day event in Cleveland.
Larson, a former adviser to Sen. Norm Coleman, ran the independent expenditures arm for the National Republican Senatorial Committee last year and was appointed to be a senior adviser to the RNC a couple weeks ago.
"As chief of staff in 2011 and 2012, Jeff helped us right the ship at the RNC when we overcame a $25 million debt to break fundraising records," said Republican chairman Reince Priebus, in a statement. "I am confident that Jeff will serve our party well in both of his new roles."
The soft-spoken Larson, who still splits his time between the east coast and Wisconsin, said in a statement he was honored and would work to execute a successful national convention "to showcase not only our nominee but also our party's vision for the future of the country."
