Rudy Giuliani won't commit to participating in the "Ames Straw Poll," the August confab which is touted as a test of organizational strength in Iowa. Republican candidates bus in their supporters, but they also have to buy tickets for them, so the whole charade amounts to a fundraiser for the Iowa GOP. Jonathan Martin of The Politico has the story:
"We'll have to take a look at that," Giuliani said at the end of the press conference following his neighborhood tour here. Asked again if he intended to play in the Iowa GOP-sponsored event in August, Giuliani added, "We're definitely going to participate."
But Giuliani spokeswoman Maria Comella later confirmed the campaign's indecision about the straw poll."We're not going to make a commitment at this point in time," Comella said.
* * * * *
Asked about his intentions for the actual Iowa caucuses, Giuliani pointed to polls that have him either leading or close behind Sen. John McCain in the state. "It looks like this is a good place for us," Giuliani said. Still he wouldn't totally commit on the spot to making a full investment in the state. Comella, Giuliani's spokeswoman, said later that they would "definitely play in the caucuses."
Read the entire post at the above link.
Martin notes that poor showings in the Straw Poll effectively ended the candidacies of Lamar Alexander and Dan Quayle, but neither of them were setting the rest of the country on fire, either. With the large states moving up to February on the primary calendar, there may be better places to spend money than in filling the state party's coffers, even six months out.
If my recollection is correct, no one has become a first-tier candidate by a good showing at this Straw Poll.
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Filed under:
2008 Presidential Race, Iowa, Rudy
Tags: giuliani, iowa, straw poll
Comments (2)
What annoys me is that no m... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Glenn Koons | April 4, 2007 1:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
What annoys me is that no matter his 50 state appeal, this silly straw poll stuff can eliminate a winner like Rudy G or whoever in the Pub Party. How in the world can Iowa and NH determine our party's nominee? Well, it is the MSM who determines this. It is the big donors who get cold feet. That is sickening. See Rudy G'e poll numbers in Ca., or in many other states. If he holds, he can actually win the Presidency. We Gopers need a guy who can win not prance and whine over whether we get everything. Most likely, the Dems will hold Congress, sadly, but true. If we just happen to hold the Ex., we at least have a shot at determining some agenda victories: we can still win the war against Islamofascism, we can still get some tax cuts if we can close the numbers in the House, and we can still get a SCOTUS choice. If we do not win because the 'purists' get their way and we lose, we get nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
1. Posted by Glenn Koons | April 4, 2007 1:14 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 4, 2007 13:14
2. Posted by CR | April 19, 2007 9:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Rudy McGuiliani would NOT win the general election against a Democrat - he's too much like Hilary - pro-choice and all- so it's fine with me if Rudy McG. doesn't bother to show up ... we don't want him and don't need him in Ames on August 11.
The GOP needs to distinguish and differentiate the candidate with a fiscal conservative, constitutionalist, pro-life advocate - maybe that nine-term GOP Congressman and champion of the National Taxpayer's Union -a fiscal conservative and border protector like Ron Paul.
2. Posted by CR | April 19, 2007 9:34 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 19, 2007 21:34