Giuliani Sends Mixed Signals About Iowa

Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani speaks in New York, Monday, May 21, 2007. Giuliani was there to receive the endorsement of local New York politicians for his 2008 presidential run. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig - AP)

Organization is key to scoring well in the straw poll _ and in the caucuses that follow.

"Iowa is a grass-roots state," said Chuck Larson Jr., a former state Republican chairman who is working for McCain's campaign. "If you are going to participate here, it requires boots on the ground,"

Following that dictum, McCain has assigned 20 staffers to Iowa, and Romney has 17. Giuliani aides said they've put seven staffers to work in Iowa and intend to hire more.

Campbell, the Giuliani adviser, said other campaigns are emphasizing the straw poll because the event is essential to them. Given Giuliani's fundraising success coupled with his advantage in name recognition, Campbell said, the event isn't make or break for the former New York mayor.

"The real issue here is McCain and Romney both have to win the straw poll, in order to justify them in moving forward," said Campbell. "If we play in the straw poll it will be part of our effort to win the Iowa caucuses. They've got all of their eggs in Iowa."

That could be, but Republican strategists said Giuliani may not understand how key a strong straw poll showing is to success five months later in the precinct caucuses.

Former state Republican Party Chairman Richard Steward worked for George W. Bush in 2000 and recalled that some advised Bush to avoid the straw poll. With Bush perceived as the front-runner, his strategists worried that anything less than a landslide victory would be seen as a setback.

Ultimately, Steward said, Iowa advisers prevailed and Bush joined in the straw poll. He went on to win convincingly with nearly one-third of the vote.

"It's not realistic to not do the straw poll and then expect to be competitive in the caucuses," Steward said.

Haus said organizing the straw poll serves as a dry run for the caucuses, enabling campaigns to test their turnout operation and spot problems.

"The benefit of the straw poll is it helps in January," said Haus. "It gives you the ability to build your organization."

If Giuliani intends to compete in Iowa, organizers of other campaigns said he had better move quickly.

"The conventional wisdom, which I certainly share, is you need organization here and organization here takes time to build," said Collins.