Rubio to Skip the Iowa Straw Poll

Sen. Marco Rubio announced Saturday that he will not participate in the Iowa Straw Poll, Politico reported. His decision follows a recent decision from fellow Floridian Jeb Bush that he, too, will not participate in the contest.

Sen. Lindsey Graham and Mike Huckabee also have said they won’t participate this cycle. Others in the crowded Republican field like Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz have yet to signal if they will attend.

"We are running a lean campaign, so we will only spend money on contests that award delegates," Alex Conant, communications director for the Rubio campaign, told Politico.

Politico quoted Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008 after finishing second in the straw poll, as explaining that the contest "weakens conservative candidates" and strengthens "the Washington ruling class and their handpicked candidates."

The bottom line: scarce funds needed to be spent on staff, lodgings and rallies can better be spent elsewhere.

The poll comes two days after the first Republican debate in Cleveland on Aug. 6 and at the same time as the RedState Gathering in Atlanta from Aug. 6 to 9.