Iowa Straw Poll

The Ames Straw Poll, known more widely as the Iowa Straw Poll, is the most prominent Republican presidential straw poll. The Straw Poll, sponsored by the Iowa GOP, is held at Iowa State University the August before any Republican presidential primary. Although the straw poll is a non-formal political activity, it has been used as a measuring stick of the viability of candidates presidential bid. The Ames Straw Poll, which charges $35 for each admission, also acts as a fund raising event for the Iowa Republican party. Voting is open to all party affiliations.

Because of the significance of the straw poll, primary candidates have spent large sums of money purchasing pre-paid ballots for supporters. In 2004, Steve Forbes and George W. Bush each spent over $2 million on tickets and activities for the Iowa Straw Poll.

2007 Iowa Straw Poll

The 2007 Iowa straw poll will be held August 11th and will consist of Republican primary candidates Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Tom Tancredo, John Cox, Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter, Tommy Thompson and Sam Brownback. Presidential primary candidates John McCain and Rudy Giuliani decided not to participate in the straw poll, allegedly because of time and resources constraints. Organizers expect there will be 40,000 Iowa Republicans at this year's straw poll.

Winners

Year	Name	Result
2000	George W. Bush	Won the Republican primary, and went on to became President of the United States.
1995	Pat Robertson	Lost Republican primary.
1995	Bob Dole and Phil Gramm (tie)	Both went on to lose in the Republican primary, although Dole won the Iowa Caucus.
1979	George H.W. Bush	Lost to Ronald Reagan in Republican primary and becomes vice president candidate