Iowa Straw Poll

Well, here are the results. So about 16,000 people in a non-binding popularity contest can kill a candidacy. Why and how is Iowa the bellwether for the entire United States of America? How much money was raised and used to court these few “voters?”

Okay, Bachmann and Paul floated to the top. I don’t think this means anything in the long run. Are they really the two most viable Republican candidates? And didn’t we already know the people at the bottom (e.g., Gingrich) were going to be at the bottom?

Winner of the straw poll and the caucus later in the past who never got the nomination include:
2007 Romney straw poll, Huckabee caucus – nominee McCain
1987 Robertson straw poll, Dole caucus – nominee Bush senior
1979 Bush senior straw poll, Bush senior caucus – nominee Reagan

Winners of the poll/caucus that did go on to be the nominee include:
1999 Bush junior (running for reelection)
1995 Dole

Lots of media coverage as if this were a real primary statewide in a string of primaries. Lots of talking head analysis and blather. Oh my, this is going to be a long and boring 15 months until the real thing.