COMMON SENSE – AT 11:16 A.M. ET:  And a political milestone.  The Iowa GOP straw poll is no more.   From the Washington Times:

The Republican Party of Iowa’s State Central Committee dealt the final fatal blow to the 2015 Iowa Straw Poll, unanimously voting Friday morning to cancel the event.

The party had been working to overhaul the format of the event, an Iowa staple since 1979 that has presented an unofficial kickoff to the presidential campaign season in the early caucus state.

“I’ve said since December that we would only hold a straw poll if the candidates wanted one, and this year that is just not the case,” party chairman Jeff Kaufmann said in a statement. “This step, while extremely distasteful for those of us who love the Straw Poll, is necessary to strengthen our first in the nation status and ensure our future nominee has the best chance possible to take back the White House in 2016.”

COMMENT:  It was also silly, and of no great value to anyone.  I happy to believe in the primary system because it tests candidates and tells us much about them.  It takes time for the public to get to know a presidential contender.  But when an event becomes burdensome, silly, or superfluous, it ought to go.  Goodbye Iowa Straw Poll.  It was nice while it lasted.

June 12, 2015