The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

OTTUMWA, IOWA -- The Ames Straw Poll is just over a week away, and many candidates are criss-crossing Iowa, looking to pick-up potential voters.

Over the past two weeks, southeast Iowa has hosted Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. Within the next week, Texas Congressman Ron Paul will be in Fairfield courting potential voters.

On Friday afternoon, KTVO spoke with Wapello County Republican Party Chair Trudy Caviness. Caviness spoke about the amount of people participating in the campaign stops and about the candidates themselves.

“I see a lot of response. I see a lot of people still trying to make up their minds, so that’s why they are attending all of these events. There are some people that have said, I just haven’t made up my mind, but I am still going to the straw poll. At the poll, you will have the opportunity to hear every candidate speak as well. The previous Thursday night, there is a televised debate; so I think some people may wait that late to decide,” said Caviness.

“As far as the straw poll, the winner, I think it is still up in the air. All of the candidates are working hard, and their people are working hard. We have write-in option, and there are a few people working hard to get some write-in’s there, so it is a very important event. To win the straw poll is to show your grass roots and volunteerism, but the other thing is after the straw poll, there will be other national people that will then come in and donate to a candidate. So it’s really a two fold for the candidates,” said Caviness.

Many of the campaigns will have buses available to transport voters from Ottumwa to Ames. If you would like to participate in the Ames Straw Poll and are interested in being on one of those buses, contact the Wapello County Republican Party directly, or the campaign that you are interested in voting for.