Tancredo to Drop Out if He Does Not Finish in Top Four in Iowa Straw Poll

In an example of setting pointedly lower standards than the Tommy Thompson campaign, an aide to Tom Tancredo said that the candidate will drop out of the race if he does finish at least fourth in the August 11 poll.

Right Wing World wrote on June 28:

Republican presidential contender Tom Tancredo will soon quit the 2008 race if his support in a key test doesn’t measure up to other candidates, a campaign aide said.

The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Tancredo would concentrate on being re-elected to Congress if he doesn’t finish in the top four at the Iowa Republican Party’s Ames Straw Poll on August 11.

The Times-Republican reported today Tancredo’s reiteration about staying in the straw poll, but he did not mention any conditions that would cause him to run for re-election to the House instead of election for the presidency.

Tancredo’s success or failure at Ames will likely be defined by his ability to galvanize those who agree with him on immigration. His poll numbers in Iowa do make a lower-than-fourth finish a possibility, though. The only two candidates I am sure will finish above Tancredo are Huckabee and Romney; Tommy Thompson, Sam Brownback, and Duncan Hunter all could as well. And that isn’t even counting the declared candidates McCain and Giuliani and the soon to be candidate Fred Thompson, or the potential candidate who will have a ‘large presence’ at Ames, Newt Gingrich.

When the immigration issue fades behind Iraq, Tancredo will eventually drop out. Whether it happens immediately after Ames or a few months later is not tremendously important.

[Photo Credit: C-Span]