Changes

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 staid 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, one day after finishing sixth he withdrew<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293012,00.html</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 said 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, one day after finishing sixth he withdrew<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293012,00.html</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>.

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>.