Barbour Joins GOP List Headed to Iowa

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has joined the list of potential Republican presidential candidates heading out to Iowa. Barbour will speak at the Iowa GOP’s Chairman’s Dinner to be held in the Quad Cities March 15, Roll Call reported.

Barbour

Other GOP notables heading out to the state that holds the first presidential caucuses include former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, who will both be at an event Des Moines March 26. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was in Iowa earlier this month, Roll Call said.

The first test of strength for potential presidential candidates comes in late summer with the Ames Straw Poll set for August 13. Candidates have skipped the straw poll in the past but a debate set for the same week might cause more to participate, Roll Call said.