I think you are confusing the Iowa Straw poll with the Iowa Caucuses. Giuliani did participate in the straw poll (and didn’t do particularly well) in 2007. He decided to sit out the Iowa Caucus (and other early states). That turned out to be a bad strategy.
The Iowa Caucuses can mean a lot, whether or not you agree with the notion that Iowa should wield so much power. The Iowa Straw Poll is a GOP fundraiser that needs to die.
you are right, I was confusing the two.