Posted on 07/23/2011 12:31:08 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Who will be on the official ballot for the Iowa straw poll in Ames on Aug. 13?
Nine GOP candidates -- including three who will not participate in the festivities:
* Michele Bachmann (will have a tent at the event)
* Herman Cain (will have a tent at the event)
* Thaddeus McCotter (will have a tent at the event)
* Tim Pawlenty (will have a tent at the event)
* Ron Paul (will have a tent at the event)
* Rick Santorum (will have a tent at the event)
* Mitt Romney (will NOT have a tent at the event)
* Jon Huntsman (will NOT have a tent at the event)
* Newt Gingrich (will NOT have a tent at the event)
(Note: Renting tent space at the straw poll festivities guarantees a listing on the ballot.)
The Republican Party of Iowa's state central committee also decided today that they would exclude Rick Perry and Sarah Palin, Gary Johnson, Fred Karger and Buddy Roemer -- as well as GOPers Chris Christie and Rand Paul who've recently been urged by supporters to run.
Nothing like a little biatchassness to shake up the GOP.
Not sure that is a good thing.
I’ll be writing in Perry’s name but there’s nothing wrong with writing in Palin’s name. I’m not sure she’s running but the process is open to write in anyone’s name one wants.
“From the link it reads like Bachmann’s committee worked to keep rising, unannounced candidates out.”
If they are unannounced, they are not candidates no matter how much they are “rising.”
Then it would have been nice to set that out in writing — as policy, and not held a vote on individuals.
However, I imagine there was a lot of pressure and it’s hard to fix things half way into a process.
Actually, the problem was (and it wasn’t just Bachmann’s camp) is that it is not fair to put people on the poll who hadn’t paid to participate after others had put down somewhere between $10k to $20K to participate. All of the candidates with tents there paid big money to participate in this poll and should not subsidize the likes of Romney.
And unlike most on FR, I haven't decided who my favorite is yet! Less stressful that way!
In fact, there were thousands of supporters of these candidates that called and complained to the Iowa GOP. I am one of them.
Yet Romney is on the ballot.
He has no tent or organization working in Iowa but he and Huntsman and Gingrich will be on the ballot because they’ve announced.
Perry and Palin have people in Iowa working but they will not be on the ballot because they have not officially announced.
There is a fine line here that I have trouble seeing.
But this will all work itself out in the wash as more states come into the picture.
I believe the candidates with the most to lose with Perry and Palin printed on the ballot, are somewhat relieved. But the specter of this sausage making has tainted things a bit.
I believe Perry would have taken votes from Romney and from Bachmann.
All write in votes will be counted.
I’ve never been to a straw poll.
My sense of it is thus:
The candidates campaign around the state, meet and greet and mingle and eat, take pictures with babies and discuss policy and politics.
They buy a tent where their supporters can gather and pay to bus them in.
And then they hold a vote. (Do you pay to vote?)
It’s a fundraiser for the Iowa Republican Party and gives candidates the opportunity to test out their organizational skills and ground game.
Is that about it in a nutshell?
Yup, but I even had Strong America Now call to offer me free tickets but I tell everyone I will not accept a free ticket. I never have and never will, and I doubt there’s much evidence that the free tickets actually translate into automatic votes.
It really is a lot of fun. It’s a real carnival-like atmosphere with the candidates having their tents, offering food, music and all kinds of other goodies. There are lots of things for kids, too.
Thanks for the insight.
Then unattached write-in voters just show up and go in and cast their ballot?
Does party affiliation matter? Can anyone vote?
It does sound like fun.
This vote is for 2nd tier candidates. If they score in the top 3 they move on , the rest will have to reconsider their efforts. Candidates like Perry and Palin , Rudy and even Mitt can sit this out. It is good for Perry and Palin not to be on the ballot because as undeclared candidates , they will not get many votes and the poor performance would hurt them. It will help if they have strong write in numbers.
So, why are 2 people who are not having tents there, allowed on the ballot, and 2 people whose pac wanted tents, not allowed?
Or is it because they don’t think Perry or Palin will acutally announce?
Check post #58 for their press release.
| Place | Candidate | # of Votes | Percent of Vote |
| 1 | Mitt Romney | 4,516 | 31.60% |
| 2 | Mike Huckabee | 2,587 | 18.10% |
| 3 | Sam Brownback | 2,192 | 15.30% |
| 4 | Tom Tancredo | 1,961 | 13.70% |
| 5 | Ron Paul | 1,305 | 9.10% |
| 6 | Tommy Thompson | 1,039 | 7.30% |
| 7 | Fred Thompson | 203 | 1.40% |
| 8 | Rudy Giuliani | 183 | 1.30% |
| 9 | Duncan Hunter | 174 | 1.20% |
| 10 | John McCain | 101 | 0.70% |
| 11 | John H. Cox | 41 | 0.30% |
| Place | Candidate | # of Votes | Percent of Vote |
| 1 | George W. Bush | 7,418 | 31.30% |
| 2 | Steve Forbes | 4,921 | 20.80% |
| 3 | Elizabeth Dole | 3,410 | 14.40% |
| 4 | Gary Bauer | 2,114 | 8.90% |
| 5 | Patrick Buchanan | 1,719 | 7.30% |
| 6 | Lamar Alexander | 1,428 | 6.00% |
| 7 | Alan Keyes | 1,101 | 4.60% |
| 8 | Dan Quayle | 916 | 3.90% |
| 9 | Orrin Hatch | 558 | 2.40% |
| 10 | John McCain | 83 | 0.40% |
| 11 | John Kasich | 9 | 0.04% |
| 12 | Bob Smith | 8 | 0.03% |
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