The Ames Iowa straw pool means a number of things. Not only is it a show case, it usually spells the end for at least one candidate’s presidential dreams.
It looks like it will be Rick Santorum’s turn.
From CNN:
Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) – On Friday, Rick Santorum suggested he could become the first political casualty of the 2012 presidential race.
Just over two months after his official presidential campaign began, the Republican candidate intimated it could soon end - if he's not "in the top five" in Saturday's Ames Straw Poll. The Republican presidential candidate spoke with CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.
"I think we have to be in the top five. I mean if we're eight or ninth - if we're not in the top five - this tells me that we don't have the organizational ability to get this thing done," Santorum told Crowley.
"This is a marathon. We got to show that we're building a team and so I'm kind of drawing the line there."
The Ames contest is seen as a test of a candidate's organization and popularity in Iowa.
If the former Pennsylvania senator does "draw the line" after a weak finish in Ames, it would surely be a devastating end to a long flirtation with a presidential bid.
In the past two years, Santorum has visited early presidential primary and caucus states – like Iowa and New Hampshire – scrounging for support. In June of this year, he announced his formal presidential campaign.
Since then, Santorum has barnstormed Iowa, home to the nation's first presidential contest. In the past few weeks alone, he – along with his wife and seven children – has traveled across Iowa selling his economic message and brand of conservatism.
Read the full story here: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/12/santorum-poor-resul...
Rick Santorum is a really nice guy. He is totally committed to conservative beliefs. Is he really Presidential material? No, not really. Santorum’s most memorable moment of the campaign was Thursday night, an hour into the debate, when he waved his and said, “hey, we aren’t getting a lot of time over here.”
He was a good senator, who was absolutely savaged by the radical left. He’s the kind of guy who would make a great next door neighbor, but leaving the Presidential race is probably the best move for him.
Santorum ran well, but after tonight it will be time for him to say good bye.
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