Jeb Bush won't attend the Iowa straw poll

Jeb Bush

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) has announced that he will attend a Republican primary event sponsored by conservative website RedState rather than this year's Iowa straw poll.

The influential poll, sponsored by the state party, allows Iowa Republicans to express support for GOP presidential candidates before the actual caucuses take place. But as of late, the straw poll "has been bashed as having outsized importance," the Des Moines Register explains, and the Iowa GOP has encouraged candidates to attend the event by offering free tent space and other incentives.

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.