Winning straw polls makes you the primary funder of grassroots groups

[BarryDonegan]

This is a politically significant phenomenon. Grassroots activist organizations must necessarily follow the dollar in order to exist. This means that their apparatus will quickly feel when the people send an instruction. For Romney to skip these polls will mean that those organizations will not be benefiting from his campaign, and the reduced legitimacy of the poll and thus lower income will be in the future blamed on Romney.

Good opportunity for Ron Paul to win hearts and minds.