Brownback asks McCain supporters for Straw Poll vote

CNN reports that Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) is utilizing a team of 45 interns, a number of which contact indentified Senator John McCain (R-AZ) supporters in the state to convince them that the Senators' shared values should earn Brownback a vote in the Republican Party of Iowa's Straw Poll in Ames on August 11th.

One intern said this:

“Generally it goes well, but some people don’t go [to the straw poll] if their candidate isn’t going to be in it,” said MacBeth. “My job is basically to talk to McCain supporters…and sort of convince them, because McCain isnt particiapting, to support Brownback. They do share a lot of positions…pro-life, gay marriage, and victory in Iraq, and [I say to them] ‘Well, you may support McCain, so you might as well support Brownback in the straw poll.”

Senator McCain and frm. New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani both ruled out actively competing in the Straw Poll, which is seen as an early test of candidate organization in the state and often a winnower of the GOP field. Senator Brownback, along with frm. Governors Mike Huckabee (Arkansas) and Tommy Thompson (Wisconsin) see the Straw Poll as a possible make-or-break moment for their smaller campaigns.

It will be interesting to see if Brownback's method can work.