[Jake The Goose]

Bingo - the Iowa straw poll is a joke - always has been.

I think you have described it well - I might add that it’s a competition for the campaign with the most buses, etc.

Straw polls are silly in the end.

[samtheman]

it’s a competition for the campaign with the most buses

Exactly.

Somebody has to go first. Right. But after an initial lottery, we could have a system of orderly rotation (6 primary dates, 8-9 states in each primary, rotating in turn after the initial lottery set-up, as an example). THAT would be Democracy in action.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

If the Iowa Straw Poll is such a joke why do the campaigns do everything they can to make a good showing? The Straw Poll has taken on the significance the Caucus once had--that is to get rid of some candidates.

Seems to me that Iowa has now gotten rid of McCain and Rudy but without them having to support the party and I can't blame them for that.

I believe McCain is DONE. Rudy probably still has some life--especially in the NE but his numbers are on the way down.