With the current top-seed Republicans, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., skipping the August Iowa Republican straw poll other candidates who want to be President are beginning to taking the position the poll is built on straw.   

Two more candidates, former Republican Govs. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Tommy Thompson are not sure if they will participate in the Ames straw poll.  It is also doubtful that Sen. Fred Thompson will participate.

With the primary season taking a different shape in the early part of 2008 and with the full cast of Presidential characters not completely in line, the once-highly respected poll might not be as meaningful or even relevant if few participate.

However, one candidate appears to be in line even if the competition is not as fierce.

Yesterday, Romney for President spokesman Kevin Madden issued the following statement on the Ames Straw Poll:

"Governor Romney has put in the time, built the organization and communicated his message to the voters of Iowa. It's a message focused on bringing conservative change to Washington, and it is resonating with Iowa voters because it matches his record of accomplishment as governor.

"Our plan all along has been to play in the Iowa straw poll, and that hasn't changed. Campaigns that have decided to abandon Ames are likely doing so out of a recognition that their organizations are outmatched and their message falls flat with Republican voters in Iowa.

"It looks as if we just beat those campaigns in Iowa two months earlier than we had planned on beating them." 

In the past, the Ames event was important because it could attract thousands of active Republicans.