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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 it is a non-binding political activity; it has been used as a measuring stick of the viability of candidates presidential bid. Since it began in 1979, the winner of the poll has gone on to win the Republican nomination two out of four times.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>  

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 it is a non-binding political activity; it has been used as a measuring stick of the viability of candidates presidential bid. Since it began in 1979, the winner of the poll has gone on to win the Republican nomination two out of four times.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>  

The Ames Straw Poll also acts as a fund raising event for the Iowa Republican party, in 2007, the Republican Party of Iowa raised over $900,000 by selling 26,000 tickets for $35 each.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref> Voting is open to all party affiliations.<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3460114&page=1</ref> Along with the straw poll, attendants are invited to somewhat of a carnival; including barbecues, inflatable playground equipment for kids, music, and supporters rallying for their candidates.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/live_from_the_s.html</ref>

The Ames Straw Poll also acts as a fund raising event for the Iowa Republican party, in 2007, the Republican Party of Iowa raised over $900,000 by selling 26,000 tickets for $35 each.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref> Voting is open to all party affiliations.<ref>https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3460114&page=1</ref> Along with the straw poll, attendants are invited to somewhat of a carnival; including barbecues, inflatable playground equipment for kids, music, and supporters rallying for their candidates.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/live_from_the_s.html</ref>

   

   

Because of the significance of the straw poll, primary candidates have spent large sums of money purchasing pre-paid ballots for supporters. In 2000, [[Steve Forbes]] and [[George W. Bush]] each spent over $2 million on tickets and activities for the Iowa Straw Poll.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE6D91039F936A2575BC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print</ref> The Iowa Straw Poll has also been a hive for media, with over 250 news organizations on hand during the 1999 straw poll.  

Because of the significance of the straw poll, primary candidates have spent large sums of money purchasing pre-paid ballots for supporters. In 2000, [[Steve Forbes]] and [[George W. Bush]] each spent over $2 million on tickets and activities for the Iowa Straw Poll.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE6D91039F936A2575BC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print</ref> The Iowa Straw Poll has also been a hive for media, with over 250 news organizations on hand during the 1999 straw poll.  

The 2007 Iowa straw poll was on held August 11 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>https://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 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 11 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>https://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 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 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>

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>https://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>https://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>https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ap55FE7Ol9O8&refer=us</ref>