Whether or not Iowa Republicans pick the winner of the contest for the party’s 2012 presidential nomination is debatable – but there is little doubt that it might spell the end of the road for some of the contestants. The event will be held Saturday 8/13/11.
Some of the candidates are not making any effort in Iowa, which is expected to favor the more conservative candidates. Among them are Mitt Romney, John Huntsman and Newt Gingrich.
Two of the candidates are very serious about the state. Both Michele Bachmann are from neighboring Minnesota (and Bachmann was born in Iowa) and both need to make a good showing.
Many others could greatly benefit from a strong showing, or dwindle toward irrelevance with a particularly weak showing. – Herman Cain, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum among them.
Democrats have nothing to do with the straw poll, but intend to have a strong presence in the state during the week. President Barack Obama has Iowa at the front end of his current bus tour, and the Democratic National Committee will be doing what it can to make sure the media in the state is not a one-sided forum for candidates with Democrats to bash.
RBR-TVBR observation: If doesn’t to a candidate any good to have money in the warchest on 8/14/11 if the campaign suffered a mortal blow on 8/13/11. This could be a nice week in Iowa to add some broadcast income in the political category.
