Overview for iowa

Confirmed: The Ames Straw Poll is Useless

We have just received yet another confirmation of the virtual uselessness of the Ames Straw Poll . The proud winner of the straw poll, Michelle Bachmann came in sixth in the Iowa caucuses (and in fact finished dead last among all serious contestants--Jon Huntsman just ignored Iowa). Furthermore,…

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Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Wednesday January 4, 2012

Waiting Time in Iowa

I attended Romney's closing rally last night in Des Moines. Very professionally done, introduction by Senator John Thune. Three themes really stood  out: * Romney opened with a statement about the danger from Iran. Without mention of Ron Paul, it astutely poked at the top vulnerability of the …

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Written by David Frum on Tuesday January 3, 2012

The Straw Poll Scam

Why doesn't the national Republican Party discourage the presidential hopefuls from participating in the Ames Straw Poll? While the benefits of this event to the Iowa GOP are perfectly clear, I don't see any benefits to the party as a whole, and there may even be some harm. The straw poll has …

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Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Sunday August 14, 2011

Can Bachmann Count?

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Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Thursday August 11, 2011

Why Pawlenty Doubled Down on Ethanol

It's right for Tim Pawlenty to travel to Iowa to denounce ethanol and other farm subsidies. But is this his way of downplaying his Iowa expectations? It's courageous, principled, and right for Tim Pawlenty to travel to Iowa to denounce ethanol and other farm subsidies. But I'm also left wondering: …

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Written by David Frum on Monday May 23, 2011