• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / Window closing for GOP candidates to get into straw poll

Window closing for GOP candidates to get into straw poll

May 6, 2011 By O. Kay Henderson

There are just 98 days until there’ll be a key measurement of how Iowa Republicans rate the field of 2012 presidential candidates. Matt Strawn, the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, says the “window is closing” for candidates who want to be competitive in the Iowa G.O.P.’s “Straw Poll” on August 13th.

“That’s the kind of organizing activity where you really get a true sense of which of these campaigns have a ground game,” Strawn says. Only a few of the likely candidates have started to assemble an Iowa campaign team. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, for example, has just hired 10 people to fan out across the state and help organize for both the Caucuses and the Straw Poll.

“I’m probably one of the least-well-known candidates in the field and that’s changing in very powerful ways,” Pawlenty says. In late January, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum (san-TOR-um) hired two long-time Iowa political insiders to work on his campaign effort and earlier this week Santorum made his 13th visit to Iowa. Candidates who do not hae “presence” in Iowa are making a “mistake” according to the chairman of the Iowa G.O.P.

“Because there is that expectation with an Iowa Caucus-goer that not only will you probably get to meet the person you ultimately caucus for, but you’re probably going to get a chance to ask him a question,” Strawn says. Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has tapped a state senator to lead her Iowa campaign — if she decides to run.

A former key staffer in Mike Huckabee’s 2008 Iowa Caucus campaign has signed on with Bachmann, too. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has three Iowans with long-term political experience on his team, too, should he decide to run. February 6, 2012 is the tentative date set for the Iowa Caucuses, but if officials in other states like Florida follow through and move their contests earlier, Iowa’s Caucuses will be held in January.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Iowa Caucuses, Republican Party

Featured Stories

ISU research finds health benefits for chickens watching virtual reality

Fish kill at Storm Lake linked to virus that impacts only carp

Final employee who was there at the launch of the Iowa Lottery to retire

No more USPS mail in Iowa prisons; inmates to get copies of mail

State officials warn of influx of fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

UNI volleyball motivated to bounce back

Iowa’s DeJean a factor in a number of spots

Grinnell College football looks for more progress in rebuild

Iowa State’s Brock eyes expanded role

Iowa’s Jones adjusting to move to center

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC