For a brief moment last weekend, Ames became the political center of the nation.

On Saturday, Aug. 14, nine Republican presidential candidates congregated at the Iowa State Center for the Iowa Straw Poll, thrusting Ames and ISU into the national limelight.

Candidates packed Hilton Coliseum with their supporters and filled parking lots around the Iowa State Center with tents housing entertainment, free food and propaganda of all kinds. Steve Forbes, publisher-turned-candidate, featured an air-conditioned tent at his camp and a free book about his flat tax if you were willing to let him give you a free $25 ticket to get in to Hilton Coliseum and vote.

Texas Gov. George W. Bush finished first in the poll, with 7,418 votes. Forbes, who tallied 4,921 votes, finished a distant second, almost 2,500 votes behind Bush. Elizabeth Dole came in at third with 3,410 votes, and Gary Bauer finished fourth with 2,114 votes. Republican Party leaders said 24,549 ballots were cast, but some were improperly marked and were not counted.

Each candidate was allotted 13 minutes to speak to the crowd of more than 14,000 inside Hilton Coliseum. Most focused on their agendas and what they would accomplished if elected president, but several of the candidates also used their speeches to criticize the Clinton administration.

“Integrity never goes out of style. I will use the bully pulpit to lead America to its better nature,” said Elizabeth Dole, whose husband, former Sen. Robert Dole, gave an afternoon speech on the lawn of Delta Delta Delta sorority, 302 Ash. Ave.

The candidates also took shots at each other during their speeches.

“This election should not be about raising money … it should be about picking a winner. It should be about picking a leader,” said then-candidate Lamar Alexander. “This is not a horse race; this is not a football game. It is the biggest job in the world.”

Although the poll was touted as simply a fund-raising event for the Iowa Republican Party, it did have significant consequences for at least one candidate. Two days after finishing sixth with 1,428 votes, Alexander dropped out of the race.

Although school was not in session when the poll was held, some ISU students attended the event.

“It was like a circus,” said Reid Weiland, sophomore in agricultural business. “Lots of hoopla, lots of smiles and a lot of money being spent. Maybe too much money.”

Weiland said although the attention that Ames received because of the straw poll was positive, he’s not sure if the straw poll is necessarily good for the country.

“I think the attention is fantastic; it brings a lot of money in to the community,” he said. “But even though it’s important for people to hear these candidates talk about their stances on issues, I don’t think this kind of money should be spent doing it.”