Iowa Straw Poll Likely to Impact Paul, Romney Presidential Odds
By Carrie Stroup
The folks at Sportsbook.com will be watching closely this weekend to see what transpires at the Iowa Straw Polls, specifically in regards to Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, who enjoy the shortest odds of any candidate in attendance.
Taking place in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, the poll gives an early indication of Iowa Republican sentiment before the state caucuses traditionally held in January, mainly by determining who leaves the stage.
Mitt Romney won’t have any competition as neither former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani nor Senator John McCain of Arizona will be in attendance.
“It’s a waste of money,” Giuliani, 63, said when asked at a campaign event in Bettendorf, Iowa, why he wasn’t taking part.
Another potential competitor, Fred Thompson, a former senator from Tennessee, hasn’t officially declared his candidacy and won’t have a presence in Ames.
Giuliani, McCain, 70, and Fred Thompson, 64, all trail Romney in most polls of Iowa Republicans.
Romney, who at press time sat with odds of 8 to 1 at Sportsbook.com, could be in for a rude awakening if he fails to be a runaway hit in Iowa.
Meanwhile, Ron Paul supporters have arranged special bus transports to and from Ames to ensure a large turnout. If last week’s Pittsburgh rally is any indication, Paul should indeed have a rather large turnout. Estimates had between 1500 to just over 2000 showing up to that event.
Paul’s popularity on the Web has forced oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com to slash Paul’s odds in half from 15 to 1 to 8 to 1. He now has the same odds as Romney.
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