The Ballot, the Debate and the Co-Chair

Tomorrow's GOP State Central Committee meeting promises to be one of the most interesting in quite a while. There are three primary issues on the table:

1. The Ames Straw Poll Ballot
2. The FOX Ames Straw Poll Debate
3. Election of an RPI Co-Chair

Criag Robinson and Katie Obradovich both written pieces about the straw poll ballot this week. The question is, who should be on the ballot? At a minimum, the candidates who aprticipated in the Land Auction are guaranteed a spot on the ballot and the ability to address the crowd in Hilton Coliseum. Beyond this point things get a little bit murky. What about declared candidates who chose not to participate, what about declared candidates who are not polling very well and finally what about prominent Republicans who have not declred their candidacy but may decide to run?

In short should Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and John Huntsman, all of whom declined to participate, be on the ballot? How about Fred Karger, or Jimmy McMillan formerly of The Rent is too Damn High Party. Perhaps the biggest question has to do with two undeclared candidates, Rick Perry and Sarah Palin, should they be on the ballot.

At this point I would have to say that I am undecided. I can see both sides of the argument. I'd love to hear from readers of this blog about their ideas on this subject. i don't know how I am going to vote on Saturday.

The second issue on my list is the upcoming FOX Ames Straw Poll Debate. As with any debate the key question is who gets to participate? When the debate was first announced, we were told that RPI would have a say in who gets invited.  This week former House Speaker Christopher Rants has been lobbying SCC members on behalf of Thaddeus McCotter to include him in the debate.

Finally, there will be an election for co-chair to replace Jim Kurtenbach who resigned to join the Palwenty campign. So far only current SCC members Tim Moran and Bill Schickel and former member Eldon Pals have been actively seeking support. There are plenty of rumours abouy other candidates but none have come out publicly.

As always SCC meetings are open to the public. The SCC does have the option of going into executive (closed) session by a majority vote. There is a chance that this meeting could end up going into executive session.

Comments

[Jason Steffens]

Yes to including declared candidates even if they are not actively participating in Ames. No to including undeclared candidates. Including undeclared candidates reduces the validity of the poll, would require arbitrary decisions on who is included, and reduces the effect of the poll (positive or negative) for those who are actually running.