U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan — the darkest of dark-horse candidates — secured a spot in the Ames Straw Poll yesterday, the clearest indication yet that the folksy, guitar-playing congressman is seriously considering jumping into the fray.
Long regarded as the most prominent straw poll in the country, the Ames Straw Poll will be held at the Hilton Coliseum on the campus of Iowa State University on August 13.
McCotter, 45, reportedly rented space at the high-stakes, media-intensive event for $18,000 — $3,000 more than the minimum $15,000 required.
The quick-witted McCotter told the Daily Caller last week that he will be making a decision soon, saying that if he gets into the race, he’ll be running to win.
Texas Congressman Ron Paul was the highest bidder, purchasing the coveted spot held by Mitt Romney in 2008. Paul reportedly spent $31,000 for space closest to the coliseum.
Minnesota’s Michele Bachmann, former pizza magnate Herman Cain, ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty also rented space for the widely-publicized event.
According to several media reports, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, whose cash-strapped campaign has suffered major defections in recent weeks, was also represented at the auction, but didn’t place a bid for a rental spot.
The auction, allowing the various presidential campaigns to bid on lots closest to the arena where they can rally their troops while entertaining delegates with a mixture of music and food, reportedly raised $114,000 for the Iowa GOP.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who officially threw his hat into the ring on Tuesday, didn’t participate in the auction. Both men had already announced that they plan to skip the straw poll.
Like Romney and Huntsman, several of the second-tier candidates, including former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, gay activist Fred Karger and Buddy Roemer, the former governor of Louisiana, declined to participate in yesterday’s auction.
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