GOP official wants to expand Iowa straw poll ballot

Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Sarah Palin won't be at next month's Iowa straw poll. But a top Republican in the state is pressing GOP officials to include their names on the ballot anyway.

Steve Scheffler, one of the state's two Republican National Committee members, tells the Des Moines Register he believes Romney, Perry, Palin and other GOP hopefuls, including Jon Huntsman and Newt Gingrich, should have their names included on the Aug. 13 ballot even if they are skipping the event or are not yet formal candidates.

"If we don't include credible candidates beyond the six that have purchased ground, I believe that it will be very challenging to keep our Straw Poll and maintain our first in the nation caucus status," Scheffler tells the Register's Kathie Obradovich.

His comments come as the state GOP prepares to finalize the straw poll ballot on Saturday. In the past, it has included the names of only candidates who purchased space at the event.

But this year, Romney, Huntsman and Gingrich skipped the event, while Palin and Perry is still cagey on whether they'll actually run. Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Thaddeus McCotter and Herman Cain have reserved space and will be allowed to speak to attendees at the event, which has previously been considered a must-attend for anyone aiming to win the state's GOP caucuses.

But with Romney and other candidates bypassing the event in favor of focusing on other key early primary states, there have been questions about the poll's relevance in the 2012 race.

While Scheffler is influential, it's unclear if his proposal will go anywhere. State GOP officials have said they want to be fair to candidates who are investing time and money in campaigning in the state and at the straw poll.