Giuliani stops in Des Moines, dismisses Iowa Straw Poll criticism - August 11th in history

Rudy Giuliani was in Des Moines, Iowa to detail his ideas for cutting federal government waste but questions after his speech focused on his lack of 'financial participation' in the Iowa Straw Poll.


"I'm here in Iowa because I know how important Iowa is," Giuliani said. "Iowa voters are common sense voters. That's kind of the way I govern and kind of the way I look at things."


The Iowa Republican Party relies on funds raised from the Iowa Straw Poll to finance its activities throughout the year and Mr. Giuliani has come under some fire for his decision not to participate. It remains to be seen whether the absence of John McCain and Rudy Giuliani will have a large impact on the bottom line or whether increased support for other candidates can make up the difference.


Iowans donated a total of $8,550 to Rudy in the first quarter of fundraising. That number placed him second behind Mitt Romney who raised nearly $40k.


In comparison, lesser-known candidate Ron Paul tallied a grand total of $450 from Iowans, the least of any GOP candidate. Paul is expected to hit Iowa hard in the week leading up to the Ames event despite the lack of funds provided by Iowans to his campaign. Will he be able to make an impact in the polls? His support at sites like Meetup.com grew dramatically in the weeks after the debates, which were held after first-quarter fundraising.


Sam Brownback and Tommy Thompson have been making a push to gain the trust of Iowa voters recently but word on the street is that they aren't snagging any new attention. Iowa still has its base of social conservatives but as a whole the political landscape is much different than in years past.


With the added attention given to it by the media and majority of candidates, the straw poll on August 11th in Ames looks like it is shaping up to be a controversial, highly-publicized event. Let's hope for some good weather.


August 11th in history...
-On this date in the proleptic Gregorian calendar begins our current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar

-The First Temple (originally built by King Solomon) is destroyed by the Babylonians in Jerusalem.

-Spartan hoplites under Leonidas I, along with Thespians under Demophilus, fought to the last man in the Battle of Thermopyle, losing to a large Persian invasion force led by Xerxes I.

-The Second Temple is destroyed by the Roman army in Jerusalem.

-Claudius Silvanus, accused of treason, proclaims himself Roman Emperor against Constantius II.

- Vietnam War: The last United States ground combat unit depart South Vietnam

-United States President Ronald Reagan, during a voice check for a radio broadcast remarks "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes".

-Alan Greenspan becomes Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve.

-The Mall of America, the biggest shopping mall in the country, opened in Bloomington, Minnesota.

-1999, A total solar eclipse visible from Europe and Asia.

-The exceptional Salt Lake City Tornado tears through the downtown district of the city.

-NATO takes over command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, marking its first major operation outside Europe in its 54-year-history.

Giuliani, McCain absence to have little effect on Iowa Straw Poll

There are mixed reactions as to how the absence of dwindling presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani and John McCain from the Iowa Straw Poll will affect turnout and prominence of the poll.


"It's a signal for the Iowa Republican Party to say we can't hold together our largest fundraiser," said former state GOP finance chairwoman Diane Crookham Johnson of Oskaloosa. "I think Fred Thompson is going to be a big signal. If he decides he doesn't need to be in it, it's probably the end of it."


No Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani or John McCain in attendance equals the end of the Iowa Straw Poll? "As far as the bottom line, no, it doesn't really affect it," says Chuck Laudner, the executive director of the Iowa Republican Party.


Many are expecting a lower turnout this year than in years past, but all major television stations have committed to covering the event, special-interest groups like the NRA are planning to attend and so in former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who is posturing for his own presidential run. There is also increased interest in lesser-known candidates such as Mike Huckabee, Tommy Thompson, Ron Paul and Sam Brownback, some of which have been using Internet sites like Meetup.com to organize groups to attend the Ames straw poll.