So now Huckabee is saying that he is staying in the Republican straw poll--but he might change his mind. Frankly, with Gilmore out, it would really be hard to put your heart and soul into it. Meanwhile Fred Thompson is not yet committed to participating in the August event.
I, for one, am just delighted about what is happening to the straw poll in Iowa. With Giuliani and McCain out and Gilmore following them, with T. Thompson and Huckabee considering a pass as well, the poll is looking like the competition will be between Tancredo and Brownback to see who can bus more single-issue cranks to Ames in August. I'm imagining a rumble in the streets between the pro-life and anti-immigration zealots snapping and singing "When you're a kook, you're a kook all the way"
But that's not what I'm here to talk about. Why am I so delighted? I'm pleased because I'm an Iowa Democrat who enjoys seeing the other state party in crisis. The Republican Straw Poll is the premiere fund raiser for the Iowa Republican party. It does more than fund their caucus; it funds a large part of their operation. As I understand the process, the Party sells tickets to the event. People with tickets get to attend and vote. So the campaigns buy up all the tickets at $30 a pop, give them to their supporters and make sure that they have a way to get to the Iowa State Campus in Ames. They give them rides, rent busses, and carpool. Each campaign also has a tent in the parking lot where they provide food, entertainment, and encourage their portly supporters to perform erotic straw poll dances. (Yikes! We will pause for a moment while I pluck out my mind's eye...)
[pause]
I assume that the Party also charges rent for the tent space. This is all supposed to be a test of their organizational strength and ability to identify their supporters. But it's really a good ol' Iowa shake-down. The shake-down only works because there is the tremendous fear that if your candidate doesn't fair well in the straw poll it will be "farewell" to the campaign (think Liz Dole in 2000).
This might be an indication that these same candidates are trying to lower expectations for the caucuses. Romney has been advertising here for two months with the same two damn commercials. McCain and Giuliani, who aren't natural fits for the state's Republican base, aren't likely to do well in the caususes. Fred Thompson has a much better shot, so he might participate if he can get organized in time. Still, it's possible that Iowa is going to end up mattering a whole lot less this year for the top GOP candidates if McCain and Romney bail.
Meanwhile, it's just fun to watch the state Republican leadership, cry and moan about their fundraiser going down in flames. Chuck Laudner, executive director of the Iowa Republicans, told Radio Iowa last week:
"This event helps us pay for Caucus Night and all those activities, plus it helps us fund our state house and senate races," Laudner said. "...It's a kick in the shins, or a little higher, right to the Iowa Republican Party."I might dwell on that image for a moment.
