Difference between revisions of "Iowa Straw Poll"

Revision as of 01:39, August 12, 2007

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-binding 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^[1]. 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^[2].

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^[3]. 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^[4].

2007 Iowa Straw Poll

The Official logo of the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll

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^[5]. Presidential primary candidates John McCain and Rudy Giuliani decided not to participate in the straw poll^[6], 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^[7]. Conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham served as Master of Ceremonies. ^[8]

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. 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^[9].

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^[10]. 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^[11][12].

The Tancredo campaign stated that they do not share values with all their funders and that Tancredo's voting record shows he is clearly pro-life. Former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee, stated that while he believed Romney's current beliefs on abortion, electing Romney would lead to accusations of a "flip-flop", which he says could lead to a Republican loss in the presidential race^[13].

Tancredo has attacked fellow candidates Romney, Brownback, Huckabee on the issue of immigration. Former governor Mike Huckabee stated that Tancredo's ad claiming Huckabee held a pro-amnesty position was "blatantly dishonest", and that Tancredo's campaign either did sloppy research or deliberately mischaracterized his position^[14]. Tancredo has used strong opposition to Illegal immigration as a central position of his campaign in Iowa, officially calling it “The Army Against Amnesty.”^[15] He stated in a speech during the Iowa Straw Poll, "This is our culture. Fight for it!" This is our nation. Take it back." ^[16]

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.^[17]

After an hour of delay due to a voting machine malfunctioned leading to the recount of over 1,500 ballots^[18] 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%^[19]. 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

External Links

• Iowa Straw Poll Official Site
• Schedule and Information Regarding the 2007 Straw Poll

References