Sen. Sam Brownback has announced that he will compete with Mitt Romney in Iowa ...
In my estimation, this puts Romney in difficult position.
1. Thanks to Brownback, Romney will still have to expend resources to win Iowa. Meanwhile, Rudy and McCain can save that same money.
2. Senator Brownback's Kansas is a lot closer than Massachusetts. He will be able to transport his Kansas supporters there to hold signs and knock on doors. Romney's victory is likely, but not certain.
3. What is more, if Romney wins, he was supposed to. If he loses, it's an embarrassing loss ...
In the past, I've written about the Brownback/Romney rivalry. It lives on ...
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*** UPDATE: It used to be that out-of-staters could vote in the Iowa Straw Poll (which is a fundraiser). Currently, only Iowans can vote in the Straw Poll. However, you don't have to be a registered voter (though you'd you do have to be eligible to vote).
Brownback will not be allowed to "bus in" supporters, however, he will certainly benefit from having Kansans come to help him campaign in Iowa ...
Another note is that the Party could still change the rules (in order to make more money at the fundraiser)...