GOP ending Iowa straw poll due to waning interest from GOP presidential hopefulls

In recent election cycles, social conservatives have tended to be bigger promoters, appreciating the event's ability to help one of their own break through, as was the case in 2011 when former Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota won.

Bachmann's victory has often been cited as an example of the straw poll's less-than-perfect record of predicting success in the caucuses. When the real voting came, she finished sixth, and dropped out of the nomination race the next morning.