Romney to skip Iowa straw poll.

Mitt Romney will skip a key early test for Republican presidential candidates by forgoing the Iowa straw poll in mid-August, a decision that could recast the contest in the nation's first presidential nominating state.

The Iowa straw poll, held in Ames, is one of the landmark events of the nominating contest. Mr. Romney's decision sends the clearest signal yet that he doesn't want to wade deeply into the social issues that carry particular weight with Iowa Republicans and instead intends to present himself to voters nationally as a successful businessman who can improve the economy.

Mr. Romney's campaign said he would still compete in Iowa's caucuses, now slated for February, 2012. But the former Massachusetts governor's absence from the Aug. 13 straw poll will likely diminish his chances, some Iowa officials say, while raising the odds that whoever wins the poll will be best positioned to claim the status as Mr. Romney's top rival for the nomination.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304778304576375940207952076.html

Romney loses Iowa in the primary and general. :-)

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But that adds some fun to the process.

Deems here are serious

ask President Huckabee.

He even served chili without his necktie to the gathered masses at the Bittersweet Farm.

He's farm ready, he is. Ayuh.

It gives Romney a much bigger hill to climb in New Hampshire, where he may be seen as a favorite son. In southern states like South Carolina, which have been right afterwards, he may be seen as a carpetbagger.

Skipping Iowa cost good candidates like Wes Clark. It may also cost the Republicans' strongest national candidate.

to prevent a bad loss in Iowa, but it is a huge concession. He'll probably win New Hampshire, but nobody will be impressed. By that point, a lot of the dynamics of the primaries win have been established.

Maybe Mitt gets it that the fundies hate his religion, and just won't get over it. I'm sure his campaign managers are constructing a strategy built around states that are NOT part of the bible belt, and hope that Bachmann, Palin, and Pawlenty neutralize each other in such places.

for the Iowa Republican Party where Candidates bus in supporters from out of state and buy tickets for each supporter to vote in a 'straw' poll.

But he won't do well in the Iowa Caucuses and won't do well in S Carolina so New Hampshire is a must for him and because he now lives there he is expected to do well but if he doesn't win with a big margin then it will be a sign of weakness.

read right over that.