Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said he won't bother with the influential August straw poll of Ames, Iowa caucus goers. He won the poll in 2007 but says he's going to focus on the New Hampshire primary this time around.
"Our campaign has made the decision to not participate in any straw polls, whether it's in Florida, Iowa, Michigan or someplace else. We respect the straw poll process," said Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades. "In the last presidential campaign we were both strengthened as an organization and learned some important lessons by participating in them. This time we will focus our energies and resources on winning primaries and caucuses. We look forward to bringing Mitt Romney's strong pro-jobs message to every part of the country."
Hot Air's Allahpundit says the strategy is pretty straightforward: "Since he probably won't win anyway, he'll keep a light footprint there and then spin his eventual defeat as due to lack of effort."
The Iowa GOP is seriously displeased but other observers are saying that the Ames poll -- like so many other campaign moments -- is tremendously overrated. Only two of the last five winners went on to win the GOP nomination anyway.
But will this hurt Romney even more among conservatives?
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Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
I would not be surprised were he to skip the Iowa caucuses. He did not do so well last time.
May '10
Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
I will skip Romney, unless "ham sandwich" drops out.
Aug '10
Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
This is a perfectly logical move by Romney given that the evangelicals have taken over the Iowa caucuses, which are highly overrated anyway. The number of delegates at play is modest and given the change the RNC made in how delegates are apportioned this primary contest will be a marathon that will reward the candidate who uses his resources wisely.
Dec '10
Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
I wonder if someone in the Romney camp will claim that Iowa is a lost cause because the voters there are anti-Mormon bigots. That's purely speculative on my part -- I don't know if anyone in his campaign feels that way, but their refusal to contest the straw poll is behavior consistent with that attitude.
Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
I don't know, but that's what E.J. Dionne speculated on NPR an hour ago.
May '10
Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
I'd like to see every candidate skip Iowa. Why should Iowa exert such a disproportionate influence of our presidential elections? It's why we're squandering billions of dollars on ethanol subsidies.
I don't care one way or the other.
Jul '10
Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
I agree with Frozen. This is a smart move, I think.
There are legitimate criticisms of Romney. Routine tactical foolishness isn't one of them.
I did get a chuckle out of this:
"We respect the straw poll process," said Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades.
Translation: the Iowa straw poll is a complete waste of our time.
Edited on Jun 10, 2011 at 4:57pmNov '10
Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
Romney is skipping the straw poll because it isn't an efficient use of finances. I would have been disappointed if he'd chosen to fritter away the donuts on this round.
Straw polls are useful for those seeking to gain name recognition.
Jan '11
Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
I don't know, but that's what E.J. Dionne speculated on NPR an hour ago. · Jun 10 at 3:27pm
Listening to E.J.Dionne on NPR - Thanks for taking one for the team Mollie.
Dec '10
Re: Mitt Romney Will Skip Iowa Straw Poll
Elizabeth Dunn: Romney is skipping the straw poll because it isn't an efficient use of finances.
Straw polls are useful for those seeking to gain name recognition.
In the Book of Five Rings, Musashi Miyamoto speaks of "holding down the pillow."
In contests of strategy it is bad to be led about by the enemy. You must always be able to lead the enemy about. Obviously the enemy will also be thinking of doing this, but he cannot forestall you if you do not allow him to come out. In strategy, you must stop the enemy as he attempts to cut; you must push down his thrust, and throw off his hold when he tries to grapple. This is the meaning of "to hold down a pillow". When you have grasped this principle, whatever the enemy tries to bring about in the fight you will see in advance and suppress it.
The important thing in strategy is to suppress the enemy's useful actions but allow his useless actions. However, doing this alone is defensive. First, you must act according to the Way, suppressing the enemy's techniques, foiling his plans and thence command him directly.