Giuliani To Skip Iowa Straw Poll

I just finished reading a story that former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani, the front-runner in national polls for the Republican presidential nomination, will skip a critical early test of political strength in Iowa this summer, bypassing a GOP straw poll, his campaign said Wednesday.
His aides said it would cost about three million dollars to compete in the straw poll and that will instead use that money to compete in the later Iowa state caucuse.
I think that he would not do so well in the straw poll anyway as he is pretty liberal for a Republican and he trails Governor Mitt Romney and Senator John Mccain, so he is probably hoping to rise more in the polls before the caucuses begin and use his money sparingly to stay in the race until then.
The straw polls are used to gauge how well a candidates organization is working in the state. He will still be on the straw poll ballot, but will not be able to tell how well his organization is doing, because the campaigns usually buy big blocks of tickets and give them to their supporters so they can participate in the straw poll.
With Rudy Giuliani's decision to skip the straw poll, it may allow Senator John Mccain to skip it as well as save his dwindling money for other contests.
Mitt Romney is fully committed to the straw poll and leads in the state polls already.
On his way to the White House, President George W. Bush competed in and won the Iowa straw poll in August, 1999.
Perhaps the candidates who want to win the Presidency should re-think whether missing the straw poll might mess up their chances of getting to the White House, as has happened to many candidates, including John Mccain, who skipped the Iowa straw poll in his failed 2000 Presidential run.

straw poll

Spc. David Berhle Is A Hero

I just finished reading a very tough story about another Iowa killed in Iraq and laid to rest yesterday in Woodbridge Cemetary in Tipton. The story said that over 1200 people were in attendance and that the service was conducted in the Tipton Middle School gymnasium.
On May 19th Specialist David Berhle was killed during combat operations, when an explosive device detonated next to the vehicle he was operating. Specialist David Berhle had enlisted in the United States Army in June 2005 and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and was later deployed to Iraq in October of 2006.
It is a heartbreaking story anytime, but particularly coming as it does just after Memorial Day, when the nation paid tribute to everyone who has sacrificed their lives, so that we could remain free.
It is a good story of what sounds like a great young man, as people who knew him from 1st grade and into adulthood related their stories of David Berhle, the hardworking and happy person that they had known and loved.
I only know of this young man from this story and I wish to send my sincerest regrets and condolences to his family and friends. He is a hero and shall be remebered for the ultimate sacrifice of giving his life so that we might be free of terror on our home soil again, by fighting the terrorists overseas.
I hope you will give the story a read, and let his family and friends know how much you thank Specialist David Berhle, for what he was doing to protect us all.
The story ends with a note that a David Berhle Memorial Fund has been set up. Please contribute as a gesture of your appreciation for his life and too early death, thank you.
David is a hero