The official ballot for the Iowa straw poll will list nine names, including three declared candidates who have decided to not compete in the Aug. 13 event: Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman and Newt Gingrich.
But the door is wide open for Iowans to vote for anyone they like: For the first time, write-ins will be counted.
After a long debate, the Republican Party of Iowa’s state central committee decided today not to include two well-known candidates who are merely flirting with a bid: Rick Perry and Sarah Palin.
They also decided against listing popular Republicans who have been urged to run but have declared they won’t, such as Chris Christie and Rand Paul. Also excluded were many lesser-known declared candidates, such as Gary Johnson, Fred Karger and Buddy Roemer.
As expected, the ballot will name the six candidates who bought tent space on the straw poll campus, a purchase that rules say guarantees a listing: Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Thaddeus McCotter, Tim Pawlenty, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum.
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