GOP Straw Poll

Days Until Bush Leaves Office = 527

As expected, Mitt Romney bought a win in the doesn't-mean-a-thing-pay-to-play Iowa GOP straw poll.

In theory, the field consisted of eleven candidates, but three - John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson - didn't even bother campaigning, adding to the yawn factor.

But I do find one thing worth noting: the Ron Paul "phenomenon" is, as I have long suspected, a technically engineered March of the Netbots. Paul garnered just 1,305 votes out of more than 14,000 cast; his internet "support" is the electoral equivalent of Monopoly money. He'll need to come up with another gimmick if he wants to win something more than bragging rights on YouTube.

For full coverage, check out Chase Martyn's reliably excellent work over at Iowa Independent.