McCain Opts Out Of Ames, Too

A statement from campaign manager Terry Nelson:

"In light of today's news, it is clear that the Ames Straw Poll will not be a meaningful test of the leading candidates' organizational abilities, so we have decided to forego our participation in the event."

Not a surprise. Why would McCain want to spend $3 million?

Mitt Romney's in a big bind. He'll do well after winning Ames only if there's an expectation that he might not do well or if the field is competitive.

Check out this framing from McCain's Iowa chairman, Dave Roederer:

"This weekend, Senator McCain will hold his 20th town hall meeting in our state. His straight talk on the challenging issues facing our country continues to resonate with Iowans and we are confident that his commitment to restraining government spending, protecting traditional values, and defeating Islamic extremists will ultimately lead him to victory in the caucuses."

As in -- Rudy might say he's still competing in Iowa, but McCain's actually been there, 20 times. Not bad for a guy who skipped Iowa in 2008.