Denver Post, CO
08-10-07
Voters grasping at straws in Iowa
Saturday's fundraising event is supposed to separate the presidential wheat from
the chaff.
Des Moines, Iowa - With the clock ticking down to the Iowa Straw Poll, some
Republican voters here are decidedly undecided. And they may stay that way
until the last minute.
"I'm still watching their body language and their sales pitch. I'm looking for
character and integrity," said Indianola resident Steve Hendren, who doesn't
think he will pick a presidential candidate until the speeches end Saturday
afternoon.
His wife, Holly, said she too wasn't sure which of the eight candidates taking part
in the poll would receive her vote.
"I think people are looking for a knight in shining armor," she said.
The GOP quest for a knightly presidential candidate - as exemplified in many
circles by former President Rea gan - has appeared to contribute to GOP voter
dissatisfaction, says Dennis Goldford, a political-science professor at Drake
University.
"It's difficult for a candidate to look good to those who idealize Reagan," he said.
"There are bits and pieces of different candidates that voters like, but for every
plus, there is a minus."
Mitt Romney, for instance, is often cited as a Catch-22 contender. Many religious
conservatives agree with his stances on social and moral issues, but there is
concern that perhaps the former Massachusetts governor came to his beliefs too
late, Goldford said. And some evangelical Protestants are uncomfortable with
Romney's religion.
"He is pro-life, which is very important to me," said Richard Heger, a Des Moines
retiree, who doesn't know how he'll vote Saturday. "But the drawback to him, of
course, is that a lot of people are concerned because he is a Mormon."
The GOP has held an Iowa straw poll in every competitive presidential cycle
since 1979. A state party fundraiser, the poll measures the strength and
organization of the campaigns.
Often, the winner gets a bounce of publicity out of the event, and the back of the
pack drop out of the presidential race.
Although no candidate who has skipped the event has won the important
January caucuses, two - former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and
Arizona Sen. John McCain - are not taking part this year. Fred Thompson, an
actor and former senator from Tennessee, has not announced his candidacy.
All three are on the ballot at the event at Iowa State University in Ames, and
observers have said that one or two may win a surprising number of votes.
A few of the eight remaining candidates, including projected winner Romney,
gathered in parks, coffee shops and even a religious bookstore Thursday to
make last-minute pleas for votes. Promises of free tickets to the straw poll (worth
$35 apiece), food, entertainment and even a slice of one of the largest
watermelons in the country flooded out of candidates' mouths.
"What is this nonsense that it doesn't matter who you vote for as long as you
vote?" quipped former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, jokingly telling supporters
to let the air out of the tires of anyone heading to the poll who isn't voting for him.
Candidates generally buy most of the estimated 40,000 tickets for the event and
then give them out to those who might support them. But it's far from a foolproof
plan.
"I was given a Romney ticket, but I don't quite know who I will vote for," said Paul
Porter, 36, a Baptist minister from Van Meter. Rather than dissatisfaction with the
field, Porter said he likes "so many of them."
The field of Republican candidates has received tepid reviews in the past few
months. Donors to Democratic candidates have contributed significantly more
than those to Republican candidates, and an Associated Press- Ipsos poll last
month showed the GOP leader was "none of the above." That was followed last
week by a Washington Post- ABC News poll showing that only 19 percent of
likely GOP Iowa caucus attendees were "very satisfied" with the field of
candidates.