Any Republican with more than four functional brain cells--sorry Paul fans, that leaves you out--knows that the Iowa straw poll is a GOP fundraiser and about as useful as a football bat in predicting who the eventual nominee will be.
Consider:
2007 winner: Mitt Romney (McCain finished 10th with 0.7 percent.)
1999 winner: George W. Bush--with 31 percent of the vote.
1995 winner: tie between Bob Dole and Phil Gramm
1987 winner: Pat Robertson (!), George H.W. Bush finished 3rd.)
1979 winner: George H.W. Bush
So, anyone here REALLY think that Ames means shit?