DES MOINES — Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul on Thursday placed the highest bid and won the top spot to set up his tent at the Aug. 13 Iowa Straw Poll in Ames, while former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich was notably not among the six who reserved spots.
The Republican Party of Iowa held an auction for presidential candidates to reserve plots at the straw poll, which is considered a key test of a candidate’s organizational strength. The event is a major fundraiser for the party. Representatives for the candidates were required to appear in person at party headquarters in Des Moines and bid a minimum of $15,000.
When the auction was over, Paul’s campaign quickly touted that he placed the highest bid of $31,000 and won the spot held in 2007 by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s campaign. The Paul campaign said that location is widely accepted as the best spot. Romney won the 2007 straw poll with 32 percent of the vote.
"The Ron Paul campaign is making a full push to be competitive all across Iowa," said Paul campaign chairman Drew Ivers. "Our campaign believes this includes the Iowa Straw Poll, and we are delighted to place the winning bid for the best spot at the event."
Republican Party of Iowa spokesman Casey Mills told IowaPolitics.com that six lots were reserved, but declined to identify which six candidates had reserved lots. Any campaign that pays for space is guaranteed a listing on the straw poll ballot.
Earlier in the day, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann said in a conference call with Iowa reporters that she planned to participate in the Iowa Straw Poll and place a bid for space.
Other Republican presidential candidates who purchased real estate at the straw poll included former Godfather’s Pizza Chief Executive Officer Herman Cain, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and Michigan U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, according to The Des Moines Register.
Bachmann was born in Waterloo and was only here until the sixth grade, but apparently, that was enough to leave her with a lasting impression.
“Everything I needed to know, I learned in Iowa,” Bachmann told Iowa reporters.
