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

In the summer of 2007, the young Golnik was on McCain’s campaign payroll as the Midwest political director. But as the campaign floundered and appeared terminal, Golnik was busted back to McCain’s volunteer Minnesota coordinator, gamely holding together the franchise in the Gopher State until the Arizona senator moved to the front of the line.

Now Golnik is back as McCain’s regional campaign manager for a territory stretching from Minnesota to Idaho, including the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming. Since most of those states are reliably red, Golnik figures he’ll spend most of his time in Minnesota.

Wearing a red McCain baseball cap, he’s roaming the state convention floor today and feeling good about his guy’s chances, despite an undercurrent of Ron Paul support.

“I think the party’s clearly united behind [McCain],” Golnik said.

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.

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