Iowa GOP straw poll gets back to its roots

DES MOINES - The leader of the Republican Party of Iowa announced reforms Thursday to the party's pre-caucus straw poll intended to offer a level playing field for presidential candidates and address some of the 'pay-to-play” concerns about an Aug. 8 event in Boone that will be less about raising money and more about retail politics.

State GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said the party is making four major changes that will provide free lot space to candidates interested in addressing tens of thousands of Iowa GOP activists, attract food vendors so campaigns don't have to wage 'culinary warfare” unless that's their choice, and provide electrical hookups so candidates don't have to bring generators or make other arrangements to participate in what is expected to be a fair-like atmosphere.

'We believe that these reforms bring the Iowa Straw Poll back to its roots, back to why we are first in the nation,” Kaufmann told Iowa reporters at a breakfast briefing. 'We are listening and we are making changes and we are very serious about our role as first in the nation.”

Kaufmann said the changes likely will mean that the state party makes less money from the fundraising event, but he believes the new format will allay concerns raised by campaigns, national media and others to the point where the only cost for candidates to attend will be the plane ticket to get them to the event site in Boone County - making attendance 'a no-brainer” for candidates looking to impress likely caucusgoers in the state that kicks off the 2016 presidential nominating process with its precinct caucuses next February.

'I can't imagine skipping an opportunity that's free and costs you a plane ticket to interact with tens of thousands of caucus-going Republicans,” said Kaufmann. 'These are leaders of the free world. There's nothing in Boone that's going to be intimidating, I can assure you, except looking Iowans and Iowa Republicans right in the eye and making your case.”

There are still details of the Aug. 8 event to be worked out, according to the GOP leader, but ticket prices have been set at $30 with a $5 discount for early orders. It is not known what the allotment of tickets that individual candidates will be allowed to purchase and a lottery will be held soon to divvy up lot space at the straw poll site based upon the random drawing.

Candidates who will on the poll for event participants will have to be 'of viable standing,” Kaufmann said, clarifying that to mean: 'They're going to have to be candidates of national standing that national pollsters are asking about.” So far, the party has not sent out invitations to candidates until all the details are worked out, he added.

The GOP leader said a straw poll overhaul was in order because one of the largest grass roots events on the presidential nomination calendar had 'turned into a high-stress and expensive endeavor.” Kaufmann said the intent of the straw poll is to be a fun opportunity for party activists to directly hear top Republicans make their cases to be president, 'not who can serve the best pizza, not who can outbid the other on the best lot. This is about candidates and Iowa Republicans. It's really as simple as that.”

In past years, the GOP straw poll previously held in Ames had generated gross revenue for the party between $500,000 and $1 million. Kaufmann said the party will make considerable less under the new format but in spelling out the reforms in an op-ed piece, he noted: 'Simply put, it is time to relegate the pay-to-play nature of the Iowa Straw Poll to the dustbin of history. (We'll leave the 'pay to play” politics to the Clintons.)”

The changes got a favorable response from at least one top Iowa Republican Thursday - Gov. Terry Branstad.

'Gov. Branstad appreciates Chairman Jeff Kaufmann's leadership at the state party and his well thought-out decision to make changes to the Iowa Straw Poll that removes many cost barriers for campaigns and creates a fun and engaging atmosphere for Iowans,” Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers said in a statement.

'As the governor has stated in the past, he is committed to working with the State Party and the Republican State Central Committee to help make the Iowa Straw Poll a success,” Centers added.