Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, widely regarded as the front-running Republican in the race for the White House, has mysteriously decided not to participate in this year’s Iowa Straw Poll nor any other early tests in advance of the 2012 primaries and caucuses, his campaign announced tonight.
By skipping the Aug. 13 straw poll in Ames, an important stop in the nominating contest, Romney offered the clearest signal yet that he will not compete vigorously in Iowa, home to the first-in-the-nation caucuses and where social conservatives are traditionally influential.
By skipping the Aug. 13 straw poll in Ames, an important stop in the nominating contest, Romney offered the clearest signal yet that he will not compete vigorously in Iowa, home to the first-in-the-nation caucuses and where social conservatives are traditionally influential.
“Our campaign has made the decision to not participate in any straw polls, whether it’s in Florida, Iowa, Michigan or someplace else,” Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades said in a statement. “We respect the straw poll process. 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.”
Romney won the Ames straw poll in 2007. But he ended up losing the more-important Iowa caucuses in early 2008, where delegates to the Republican National Convention were decided. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, was the surprise winner and Romney was the runner-up.
According to The Washington Post, the straw poll in Ames, hosted by the state’s Republican Party, can be a costly effort for campaigns. Four years ago, Romney spent millions of dollars and months of effort toward the event and a poor performance this time could have diminished his standing in the Republican field.
Romney still plans to compete in the caucuses next February, and his advisers said he will return to Iowa for future campaign events.
“The campaign is making a smart decision to not to compete in the upcoming series of straw polls,” Brian Kennedy, a Romney advisor and former Iowa state GOP chairman, said in a statement. “Mitt’s focus is on winning the nomination, not the straw polls. Mitt will be back in Iowa this summer and will participate in the Ames debate,” scheduled two days before the straw poll.
The decision, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, could recast the race in Iowa. It presents an opportunity for former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, who has made Iowa central to his overall strategy, Rep. Michele Bachmann of neighboring Minnesota, and other announced and potential candidates who appeal to Evangelical voters, the Post wrote.
