YET THE POLITICOS CONTINUE TO TREAT THEM AS SERIOUS CONTENDERS:

Iowa Republican leaders don't miss Romney, Huntsman (Jackie Kucinich, 7/04/11, USA TODAY)

Jon Huntsman, a former governor of Utah and ambassador to China, announced earlier this month he will not compete in Iowa, and neither he nor former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will participate in the Ames Straw Poll in August.

Huntsman has said his stance against ethanol subsidies, a popular program in the state, would make a campaign a non-starter, although other candidates, such as Minnesota former governor Tim Pawlenty, have also said cuts to the longtime program should be "on the table."

Romney's campaign announced last month he would not participate in any straw polls this cycle in order to focus on primary contests and conserve resources.

Presidential contender and former senator Rick Santorum, R-Pa., has suggested Huntsman and Romney may not be conservative enough to play in the state. Santorum's comment fuels a narrative that has taken root since Arkansas former governor Mike Huckabee won the caucuses in 2008, largely because he gained the support of the state's social conservative base.

Huckabee's win with 34% of the vote in 2008 surprised political observers who had watched Romney drop millions in Iowa only to finish with 25%.

Huckabee won 46% of evangelical or born-again Christian votes, most of whom said they backed him because he shared their values, according to a 2008 Associated Press exit poll.

And don't believe Mormons do.

Posted by oj at July 5, 2011 6:07 AM
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