U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's campaign says she does not plan to participate in Florida's Presidency 5 straw poll next month -- dealing another blow to the state Republican Party's quadrennial event.
"Congresswoman Bachmann is working hard with a focus on the 2012 caucuses and primaries. There are no plans for her to take part in any other straw polls, including the Florida poll," Doug Sachtleben, a spokesman for the Minnesota lawmaker, said in an e-mail to Sunshine State News Tuesday.
Bachmann's decision to opt out would leave the Sept. 24 straw poll without two of the biggest names in the GOP field. Mitt Romney said earlier this year he would not vie in any straw polls.
At this point, only Ron Paul, Herman Cain and Jon Huntsman have committed to participate in the straw poll, which will be conducted at the Orange County Convention Center at the conclusion of the RPOF's three-day Presidency 5 summit.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who entered the race this week, has not confirmed whether he will compete in the straw poll.
Mark Miner, a Perry spokesman, told Sunshine State News on Monday that he is "unaware" of the poll.
RPOF spokesman Brian Hughes said the party is "disappointed" to hear about Bachmann, but didn't necessarily consider Sachtleben's statement the final word.
"We have calls in to higher level people in the campaign," Hughes said.
"There's no road to the White House that doesn't include convincing the people of Florida that you're up to the task. It would be surprising if she ignored Florida," he added.
But Seth McKee, a political science professor at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, said Bachmann's move "makes sense strategically."
"When you don't have really good name recognition, the only path to victory is to just go one state at a time. Unlike Iowa, Florida is the anti-grass-roots state. It will play well with people who have a big profile."
On that basis, McKee predicts Perry could play well in the P5 straw poll
"Perry would be the natural candidate to participate because of his big profile as a Southern governor. He would do well by default."
It is widely expected that all top-tier GOP hopefuls will appear for a Fox News debate scheduled for Sept. 22, on P5's opening night.
On Sept. 23, at a separate event, CPAC's first-ever regional meeting has confirmed the attendance of Bachmann, Romney, Paul, Cain and Huntsman, along with Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter.
Less than two weeks earlier, on Sept. 12, a CNN/Tea Party presidential debate will be conducted at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. No RSVP list has circulated yet for that event.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or (772) 801-5341.
