Jun 08 2007
McCain and Giuliani to Skip Iowa Straw Poll
Remember last month when the Clinton campaign was flirting with the notion of skipping Iowa? Well, it seems that idea has gained some momentum:
An Iowa straw poll that traditionally has served as an early benchmark in the Republican presidential nomination race lost much of its luster Wednesday as first Rudolph W. Giuliani and then John McCain decided not to compete in it.
The straw poll, scheduled for Aug. 11, in past campaigns has drawn tens of thousands of Republicans to a state party gathering in Ames, Iowa. But candidates have had to spend large sums of money to transport supporters to cast ballots at the gathering.
Giuliani’s campaign, which has not stressed grass-roots organizing in Iowa and faced a potential setback in the straw poll, announced Wednesday morning that it would not actively participate in the vote.
Hours later, the McCain camp followed suit.
How did the Mitt Romney camp react to the news? They said, you quit so, we win!
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is declaring an early victory in the race for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination. Romney and his backers are ridiculing rivals Rudy Giuliani and John McCain for deciding to skip competing in the Iowa Republican Party’s Straw Poll in Ames this August.
How are Iowans reacting to the news?
The straw poll is expected to draw tens of thousands of Iowa GOP activists to Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University on Aug. 11, and serve as an organizational dry run for candidates competing in the January caucuses.
Other campaigns have already made major efforts to prepare for the event, such as renting buses and lining up entertainment for the event, which is equal parts parade and politics.
Giuliani’s and McCain’s decision could dampen interest in the event as a true early test of strength in the Republican field.
No candidate in the straw poll’s nearly 30 year history has bypassed the event and won the caucuses.
Sounds like someone is not happy about the financial repercussions of this news. In a race that has already passed into the obscene realm with the amount of money raised and spent, I think it may be a good thing to “throttle back” a bit on campaign milestones.
