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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>

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 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.   

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 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>.

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 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. 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 huge 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. In an effort to gain support from [[Iowa]] [[conservative]]s, [[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>.   

Tancredo has attacked fellow candidates Romney, Brownback, and Huckabee on the issue of immigration. Former governor Mike Huckabee stated that Tancredo's ad claiming Huckabee held a pro-amnesty position was "blatantly dishonest", and that Tancredo's campaign either did sloppy research or deliberately mischaracterized his position<ref>http://www.rightwingwatch.org/individuals/john_tanton/index.html</ref>. Tancredo has used strong opposition to Illegal immigration as a central position of his campaign in Iowa, officially calling it “The Army Against Amnesty.”<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref> He stated in a speech during the Iowa Straw Poll, "This is our culture. Fight for it!" This is our nation. Take it back." <ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>

Tancredo attacked fellow candidates Romney, Brownback, and Huckabee on the issue of [[illegal immigration]]. Former governor Mike Huckabee stated that Tancredo's ad claiming Huckabee held a pro-[[amnesty]] position was "blatantly dishonest", and that Tancredo's campaign either did sloppy research or deliberately mischaracterized his position<ref>http://www.rightwingwatch.org/individuals/john_tanton/index.html</ref>. Tancredo has used strong opposition to Illegal immigration as a central position of his campaign in Iowa, officially calling it “The Army Against Amnesty.”<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref> He stated in a speech during the Iowa Straw Poll, "This is our culture. Fight for it!" This is our nation. Take it back." <ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>

Most candidates have offered free straw poll tickets to supporters, with exception of Duncan Hunter. The Tancredo, Romney and Brownback campaigns used numerous buses to get supporters to the straw poll.<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref>   

Most candidates have offered free straw poll tickets to supporters, with exception of [[Duncan Hunter]]. The Tancredo, Romney and Brownback campaigns used numerous buses to get supporters to the straw poll.<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref>   

After an hour of delay due to a voting machine malfunction, which led to the recount of over 1,500 ballots,<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/08/ames_a_partial_recount_confirm.php</ref> Mitt Romney won the 2007 Ames straw poll, receiving 4516 votes, or 31%. Former conservative governor [[Mike Huckabee]], who's poll numbers had been steadily rising around the nation, finished second with 2587 votes at 18.1%<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>. Huckabee's second place finish was somewhat of a surprise to political analyst because of his lack of transportation to the straw poll and late start in Iowa.   

After an hour of delay due to a voting machine malfunction, which led to the recount of over 1,500 ballots,<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/08/ames_a_partial_recount_confirm.php</ref> Mitt Romney won the 2007 Ames straw poll, receiving 4516 votes, or 31%. Former conservative governor [[Mike Huckabee]], who's poll numbers had been steadily rising around the nation, finished second with 2587 votes at 18.1%<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>. Huckabee's second place finish was somewhat of a surprise to political analyst because of his lack of transportation to the straw poll and late start in Iowa. Huckabee's second place finish was somewhat of a surprise to political analyst because of his lack of transportation, funds, and late start in Iowa. Huckabee stated after the victory, “We had two fish and five loaves and it fed 5,000.”

   

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