Changes

==2007 Iowa Straw Poll==  

==2007 Iowa Straw Poll==  

[[Image:2007IowaStrawPollLogo.jpg‎ |thumb|240px|The Official logo of the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll]]

[[Image:2007IowaStrawPollLogo.jpg‎ |thumb|240px|The Official logo of the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll]]

The 2007 Iowa straw poll is held August 11th and consists of Republican primary candidates [[Mitt Romney]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[Tom Tancredo]], [[John Cox]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Duncan Hunter]], [[Tommy Thompson]] and [[Sam Brownback]]<ref>http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070625/NEWS/70625033/1001</ref>. Presidential primary candidates [[John McCain]] and [[Rudy Giuliani]] decided not to participate in the straw poll<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-06-06-iowa-straw-poll_N.htm</ref>, allegedly because of time and resources constraints. Organizers expected a crowd of 40,000 Iowa Republicans at the 2007 straw poll, but campaign estimates showed a sharp decline from the 1999 straw poll with just 14,000 Iowans casting straw ballots, compared to 23,500 voters in the 1999 straw poll<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>. Conservative talk show host [[Laura Ingraham]] served as Master of Ceremonies. <ref>http://www.iowagop.net/downloads/Straw.Poll.Info.pdf</ref>

The 2007 Iowa straw poll was on held August 11th and consisted of Republican primary candidates [[Mitt Romney]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[Tom Tancredo]], [[John Cox]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Duncan Hunter]], [[Tommy Thompson]] and [[Sam Brownback]]<ref>http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070625/NEWS/70625033/1001</ref>. Presidential primary candidates [[John McCain]] and [[Rudy Giuliani]] decided not to participate in the straw poll<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-06-06-iowa-straw-poll_N.htm</ref>, allegedly because of time and resources constraints. Organizers expected a crowd of 40,000 Iowa Republicans at the 2007 straw poll, but campaign estimates showed a sharp decline from the 1999 straw poll with just 14,000 Iowans casting straw ballots, compared to 23,500 voters in the 1999 straw poll<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>. Conservative talk show host [[Laura Ingraham]] served as Master of Ceremonies. <ref>http://www.iowagop.net/downloads/Straw.Poll.Info.pdf</ref>

Some Republican primary candidates stated that they will not remain in the primary race unless they have a good showing at the straw poll. Mike Huckabee, who finished second stated he would reconsider his race if he does not get in the top half of the straw poll votes. Tommy Thompson has said he will step down from the race if he does not finish in the top two straw poll spots, a position he did not come close too,finishing sixth in the straw poll.   

Some Republican primary candidates stated that they would not remain in the primary race unless they had a good showing at the straw poll. Mike Huckabee, who finished second, before stated he would reconsider his race if he did not get in the top half of the straw poll finishers. Tommy Thompson stated he would step down from the race if he did not finish in the top two straw poll spots, a position he did not come close too; finishing sixth.   

The three House members competing, Representatives Duncan Hunter who of California, Ron Paul of Texas and Tom Tancredo of Colorado, have vowed to stay in the race, regardless of their placement in the Iowa Straw Poll<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ap55FE7Ol9O8&refer=us</ref>.

The three House members competing, Representatives Duncan Hunter of California, Ron Paul of Texas and Tom Tancredo of Colorado, \vowed to stay in the race regardless of their placement in the straw poll<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ap55FE7Ol9O8&refer=us</ref>.

Mitt Romney, who held a significant lead in the Iowa polls, came into the straw poll with a advantage over the other presidential straw poll candidates<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/group_attacks_r.html</ref>. Because McCain and Giuliani did not attend that straw poll, Romney was predicted to easily win the straw poll. In an effort to gain support from Iowa conservatives, Sam Brownback campaigned heavily against Romney's past stance on abortion and alleged that fellow Republican candidate, [[Tom Tancredo]], gave money to a "founder of a Planned Parenthood network" in a negative advertisement days before the straw poll<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/07/26/VI2007072601105.html</ref><ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/07/26/brownbacks_robocallshit_romney.html</ref>.  

Mitt Romney, who held a significant lead in the Iowa polls, came into the straw poll with a advantage over the other straw poll candidates<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/group_attacks_r.html</ref>. Because McCain and Giuliani did not attend the straw poll, Romney was predicted to easily win the straw poll. In an effort to gain support from Iowa conservatives, Sam Brownback campaigned heavily against Romney's past stance on abortion and alleged that fellow Republican candidate, [[Tom Tancredo]], gave money to a "founder of a Planned Parenthood network" in a negative advertisement days before the straw poll<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/07/26/VI2007072601105.html</ref><ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/07/26/brownbacks_robocallshit_romney.html</ref>.  

The Tancredo campaign stated that they do not share values with all their funders and that  Tancredo's voting record shows he is clearly pro-life. Former [[Arkansas]] Governor, Mike Huckabee, stated that while he believed Romney's current beliefs on abortion, electing Romney would lead to accusations of a "flip-flop", which he says could lead to a Republican loss in the presidential race<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/posttalk_huckabees_tough_talk.html</ref>.   

The Tancredo campaign stated that they do not share values with all their funders and that  Tancredo's voting record shows he is clearly pro-life. Former [[Arkansas]] Governor, Mike Huckabee, stated that while he believed Romney's current beliefs on abortion, electing Romney would lead to accusations of a "flip-flop", which he says could lead to a Republican loss in the presidential race<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/posttalk_huckabees_tough_talk.html</ref>.