Changes

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<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 2004, [[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 Iowa Straw Poll has acted as a means of narrowing down Republican primary contestants. Lower tier candidates are forced to place high in the straw poll in order to keep up funding from supporters. In 1999, [[Lamar Alexander]] ended his primary campaign just two days after the Iowa Straw Poll. In October of the same year, Elizabeth Dole also cut short her campaign after not living up to her supporters expectations in the Iowa Straw Poll<ref>http://www.iowagop.net/straw.poll.asp</ref>.  

The Iowa Straw Poll has acted as a means of narrowing down Republican primary contestants. Lower tier candidates are forced to place high in the straw poll in order to keep up funding from supporters. In 1999, [[Lamar Alexander]] ended his primary campaign just two days after the Iowa Straw Poll. In October of the same year, Elizabeth Dole also cut short her campaign after not living up to her supporters' expectations in the Iowa Straw Poll<ref>http://www.iowagop.net/straw.poll.asp</ref>.  

The 2007 Iowa Straw Poll was won by former Massachusetts' Governor [[Mitt Romney]]. Conservative [[Mike Huckabee]], the former [[Arkansas]] governor, placed second in the straw poll of over fourteen thousand Iowa voters.  

The 2007 Iowa Straw Poll was won by former [[Massachusetts]] Governor [[Mitt Romney]]. Conservative [[Mike Huckabee]], the former [[Arkansas]] governor, placed second in the straw poll of over fourteen thousand Iowa voters.  

==2007 Iowa Straw Poll==  

==2007 Iowa Straw Poll==  

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 analysts because of his lack of transportation to the straw poll and late start in Iowa.  Huckabee stated after the victory, “We had two fish and five loaves and it fed 5,000.”  

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]], whose 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 analysts because of his lack of transportation to the straw poll and late start in Iowa.  Huckabee stated after the victory, “We had two fish and five loaves and it fed 5,000.”