Iowa Straw Poll in Jeopardy this Year

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Party officials are pondering the future of the state’s traditional straw poll for presidential favorites.

Iowa GOP spokesman Charlie Szold confirms that a conference call has been set up for Friday, but declines to provide further details. The call was first reported in the Des Moines Register.

State GOP officials have fought to keep the Aug. 8 event alive. But critics say the poll has become a costly sideshow and few candidates have committed to participate this year.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham are among the White House hopefuls who plan to skip the event. Others say they won’t spend money to participate.