Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio will not participate in the Iowa straw poll, his campaign team confirmed Saturday.
The Florida senator is the latest to join a slew of potential 2016 GOP nominees who have said they will not participate in the poll, long considered a staple on the road to the presidential nomination, Politico reported.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker have all said they will not participate in the poll. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and others have not yet made a decision.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson are the only two major Republican candidates who have committed to the event.
Alex Conant, communications director for Mr. Rubio’s campaign, alluded to financial concerns behind the decision not to attend.
“We are running a lean campaign, so we will only spend money on contests that award delegates,” Mr. Conant said, Politico reported.
Mr. Bush has also said that he “doesn’t do straw polls” because they are too costly. Money used to buy tickets, meals, and transportation for campaign support can instead be used for campaign infrastructure.
The straw poll has not affected the Republican nomination for the past two presidential elections, however. Both John McCain and Mitt Romney passed on the straw poll.
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.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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