While the straw poll faze of the presidential race is the most favorable for Ron Paul, it is also the most favorable for all of the other underdog candidates as well. Losing the SRLC straw poll, or any of the upcoming straw polls, means an opportunity for one of the middle or lower-tier candidates like Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty or Haley Barbour to grab headlines and demonstrate their electability, just as Mike Huckabee did by coming in second at the Ames, Iowa straw poll in 2007. We cannot allow that to happen. Ron Paul must monopolize the position in the race as the novel alternative candidate with the potential to threaten the front-runners in Iowa and New Hampshire. As soon as Gingrich, Pawlenty or Barbour wins a straw poll, that's all the pundits will talk about--Ron Paul will be instantly displaced. To maximize Ron's chances of winning the race, we must keep the race between him and the same old worn-out empty suits he ran against last time.
