Giuliani to Iowa: See You Later

Rudy Giuliani will skip the August Iowa straw poll, a decision that allows him to trim some $3 million out of his budget as he attempts to maintain his national frontrunner status. His campaign manager says Giuliani is "100% committed to winning" the January caucuses, but the decision renews speculation that he'll skip the state altogether, the AP reports.

One Iowa Republican predicts repercussions in the caucuses: "You can't sit out half the game and expect to be the effective closer." Giuliani's absence not only reduces the importance of the nonbinding straw poll but opens up the possibility that John McCain will also drop out, essentially conceding the first serious vote of the 2008 campaign to Mitt Romney. (More Rudy Giuliani stories.)