Hmmm. Yes, it’s strange. This article from CNN contradicts Rush’s comment. Yes, I know it’s CNN, but this is not an opinion article, but just an explanation of the mechanics of the process.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/10/politics/iowa-caucus-explainer-voting-dg/index.html
Right. I agree, CNN seems to be right about this.
I just found a Wikipedia history that says from 1979 to 2015 Iowa also had a Straw Poll several months before the Caucuses. Maybe Rush was confusing the two.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_caucuses