Changes

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 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>

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 said he will 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.   

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.   

The three House members competing, Representatives Duncan Hunter 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 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>.

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 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>.  

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 malfunctioned leading 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 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 malfunctioned leading 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 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.

 

==Winners==  

==Winners==  

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

| [[George H.W. Bush]]

| [[George H.W. Bush]]

| Lost to [[Ronald Reagan]] in Republican primary and becomes vice president candidate  

| Lost to [[Ronald Reagan]] in Republican primary and becomes vice president candidate  

|}

|}

==External Links==

==External Links==