Politics on the Hudson

Just a day after Rudy Giuliani announced he would skip the August straw poll in Ames, Iowa — a key, early test of a candidate’s strength in that state — his campaign today announced the appointment of former Iowa Secretary of State and former Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate as the Iowa State Chairman.

In a press release announcing the move, Giuliani’s campaign said Tate’s appointment “reaffirmed its commitment to winning the Iowa Caucuses.”

“Mayor Giuliani is honored to have a well-respected Iowan like Paul Pate leading his efforts in the state,” Giuliani’s Campaign Manager Michael DuHaime said in the release. “Iowa is a critical part of our campaign’s strategy and a great showing in the Iowa Caucuses is key to Rudy Giuliani winning the Republican nomination.”