The Death of the Iowa Straw Poll

As next year's presidential campaign begins to get serious, the Democrats are looking for competition to Hillary Clinton, while the Republicans have too many candidates to fit on the same stage. The latest obstacle to winnowing the Republican presidential field is cancellation of the Iowa Straw Poll. Since 1979, it's been part of the early action for the GOP. But it's been discontinued — for lack of interest. Ron Brownstein is editorial director of the National Journal Group.