August 11th, 2011
Michael Barone on the Iowa Straw Poll of 1979:
Iowa Republicans got into the act later. In 1979, they took a straw poll at a political fundraiser. The surprise winner was George Bush, former Texas congressman and CIA director, who came in slightly ahead of Ronald Reagan. Candidates considered moderate — Bush, Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker, Illinois Rep. John Anderson — won most of the votes.
This straw poll proved to be an accurate predictor of the precinct caucuses in winter 1980. Bush again came in first, ahead of Ronald Reagan. I remember walking with him the morning after in the Des Moines snow, as he claimed he had “Big Mo” — momentum.
It wasn’t enough to carry him to victory in the New Hampshire primary or give him the presidential nomination. But without this victory in Iowa, it’s inconceivable that the George Bushes, father and son, would have been president or vice president for 20 of the next 28 years.
Dave Bowman August 11, 2011 at 5:34 pm
“it’s inconceivable that the George Bushes, father and son, would have been president”–really?
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/08/10/nixon-nearly-picked-bush-as-vp
Some people really do want it that bad