While I don't usually subscribe to conspiracy theories, I came across an interesting tidbit this afternoon and it struck me as disturbing. In the Washington Post's coverage of the straw poll, they close with a round up of the top... well, count for yourself:

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee finished second with 18 percent of the 14,302 votes cast, and Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas ran third with 15 percent. Huckabee and Brownback had waged a fierce battle for the allegiance of Iowa's social and religious conservatives. An ebullient Huckabee said Saturday night that the outcome will give his campaign a significant boost and vowed to coalesce those conservatives in Iowa and other early-voting states.

Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, the most outspoken opponent of current U.S. immigration policy, finished fourth with 14 percent. Former Wisconsin governor Tommy G. Thompson was sixth at 7 percent. He had said he would quit the presidential race if he failed to finish in the top two, and his campaign said late Saturday that he would make an announcement within 48 hours about his candidacy.

Hat tip: Vox Day

The last time I checked, when you have a set of 6+ things and you put them in order, one of them is always in 5th. Why would the WaPo leave this out?

Today, each of the Republican Presidential candidates participating in the Ames Straw Poll will speak before 12,000 Iowa Republican activists at the Hilton Coliseum. Though I have my doubts about overall attendance, the Iowa Republican Party claims that more than 40,000 could be in attendance. Whatever the number [will it even break 1999? -ed.], these are certain to be the XX,XXX most committed Iowa Republicans, at least those who are supporting Ames players.

Is it just me, or isn't this the perfect place to roll out an SMS program? An intrepid candidate could stand at the podium, and say, "And to join my campaign, please text AMES to MITT08 (PAUL08, HUCK08, BRNBK, etc. etc.) [here, he holds up his cell phone]. Then please join us by our tent, show us the confirmation message on your phone, to receive your special Ames collectible ______."

This can work because you have a large number of activists who are driven by incentives and looking for swag. Romney has the "best BBQ in Iowa." Hunter has an Elvis impersonator handing out ice cream cones. The candidates could easily wall off one of these incentives for people who gave them their email address or cell phone number. And then have a list of 10-15K Iowa names, many of whom are supporters, but others who are potentially open to supporting you. And SMS is probably the best way to collect mass supporter info off a single speech.