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IowaPolitics.com: Romney still focused on straw poll
6/6/2007

By Chris Dorsey
IowaPolitics.com

Despite Wednesday's announcements from two top Republican candidates that they would skip the Republican Party of Iowa's straw poll in Ames, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign says it still intends to work hard on the August event.

“Our plan all along has been to play in the Iowa straw poll, and that hasn’t changed," said Kevin Madden with the Romney campaign. "Campaigns that have decided to abandon Ames are likely doing so out of a recognition that their organizations are outmatched and their message falls flat with Republican voters in Iowa."

Romney's Iowa campaign staff has been working diligently in preparation for the poll. At campaign HQ there are posters listing hundreds upon hundreds of names indicating the support the campaign has received from Iowans.

Romney claimed the lead in the latest Des Moines Register Iowa Poll over Giuliani and McCain. Backing out of the straw poll would not sit well with the voters Romney has reached, Madden said.

“Governor Romney has put in the time, built the organization and communicated his message to the voters of Iowa," Madden said. "It’s a message focused on bringing conservative change to Washington, and it is resonating with Iowa voters because it matches his record of accomplishment as governor. It looks as if we just beat those campaigns in Iowa two months earlier than we had planned on beating them.”

The Romney camp held a press conference to deliver the message they continue to move on with their intentions of playing in Ames whether it is a full field or not. The Iowa campaign has made a significant investment in the straw poll, sinking financial resources into it and hiring Nicole Schlinger as its straw poll director.

The state Republican Party issued a statement thanking Romney for staying the course in regards to the straw poll.

"Governor Mitt Romney clearly understands the importance of the Straw Poll and the role the event and its voters play in the political process," the statement said. "In light of today's news, we are glad to hear Romney is keeping his word to participate in the Straw Poll and that he has made the wise decision to stay in the race." 


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