Idaho GOP To Hold First Ever Presidential Straw Poll

Idaho’s Republican Party has scheduled its first-ever presidential straw poll in hopes of luring the top GOP contenders to the state.  Idaho Republican Party Executive Director Jonathan Parker says the event scheduled Jan. 6 in Boise is non-binding. But the goal he says is to get the candidates to come to Idaho and court voters before the GOP caucuses March 6. The straw poll is one of several changes in store for Republican voters during the 2012 election cycle. The GOP will have party registration in the wake of changes made by lawmakers to close the party’s primary election. The state Republican party also moved up its presidential primary from late May to early March in hopes of making Idaho’s 32 delegates more valuable in the nominating process.