Straw fades and Bernie is mobbed

Finally, things are getting interesting in caucusland.

Iowa Republicans are clawing and scratching to save the once-mammoth August GOP Straw Poll, as candidates flee the event like mosquitoes in a cloud of DEET.

Meanwhile, another big August event GOP candidates desperately want to participate in, the first televised debate on Fox News in Cleveland, is being limited to just ten hopefuls, using national polling as a guide. Psychics would be a lot cheaper.

On the Democratic side, hundreds of pumped up progressives mobbed some guy who supposedly has no chance of winning, while the candidate who is supposedly on her way to a big, easy victory still is holding microscopic, exctitement-free events that draw more press than voters. Curious.

The straw poll death watch is at Defcon 2. Arkansan Mike Huckabee and Floridians Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio will not seek to win a fake election held in a field near Boone, as state Republicans hoped. Only two candidates have committed, Ben Carson and Donald Trump, who probably won't even be a candidate by August.

The poll is scheduled for Aug. 8. On Aug. 9, the party will hold its great leftover barbecue giveaway.

This is not sitting well with some. Carroll County GOP Chair Craig Williams implored candidates, in an email to Republicans, to have the 'boldness to face 20,000 Iowans.”

'If they can't do that, how can we expect them to face ISIS?” Williams wrote, according to the New York Times.

This was entirely predictable. Campaigns were bound to figure out sooner or later that it's not worth their time, effort and cash to win a fake vote that's now seen by many observers outside Iowa as a money-grabbing sham. Even some wise changes by state Republicans to reduce it's sham-iness weren't enough. They ought to drop the poll and salvage the event.

As for the GOP debate, I say ten candidates can start the debate, with other hopefuls waiting in the wings. The audience would periodically be given the chance to vote one or more candidates out of the debate, making room for the second string to get into the game. A ratings bonanza. You're welcome, Fox.

Speaking of a bonanza, how about that Bernie Sanders, the so-called wacky Vermonter who has joined the Democratic race with a flourish? He drew a crowd of 300 people in Kensett, population 266. Granted, it is part of the Northwood-Kensett metroplex, but still.

Yes, I know. Polls. Organization. Hillary Clinton's got ‘em. But if you're a Clinton strategist, these crowds have to give you at least a moment's pause. Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley are out there packing ‘em in, and the nominee-in-waiting is making Iowans wait, and then wait some more. Clinton's bite-sized infomercial tour needs to start shamwowing some Democrats who aren't seated at roundtables.

Her upcoming post-announcement tour of Iowa June 13-14 will be a good chance to shift gears. Rallies? Questions and answers? Give and take with voters, sans bubble? Could be.

I mean, if Clinton can't face big crowds and spontaneous questions, how is she going to face ..., OK, never mind.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com