The eight presidential candidates will not be the only ones taking the stage at Hilton Coliseum. Several organizations will also be holding rallies in the arena: the Fair Tax organization at 9 a.m., National Rifleman's Association at 11 a.m., Newt Gingrich and the American Solutions Workshop at 3:30 p.m. and the ONE Campaign at 4 p.m.

ATTENDANCE ESTIMATE

Republican Party of Iowa officials are estimating 40,000 people will attend this year's straw poll. With the absence of Giuliani, McCain and Fred Thompson, some skeptics think that number will be lower.

However, there is some basis for their estimates. The RPI says an estimated 40,000 people were present in 1999. More than 37,000 tickets were sold, though 23,685 voted. The candidates used nearly 235 buses to get supporters to the fundraiser that year.

RECENT STRAW POLL HISTORY

-- 1999

The straw poll historically serves as a winnowing process. Twelve Republican candidates were on the 1999 ballot, but six competed in the 2000 Iowa Caucuses.

Iowa Republicans cast 23,685 ballots in 1999. George W. Bush claimed victory with 7,418 votes, while Steve Forbes captured second with 4,921. Elizabeth Dole finished third with 3,410 votes. Gary Bauer and Pat Buchanan rounded out the top five with 2,114 and 1,719, respectively. Other candidate results: Lamar Alexander, 1,428; Alan Keyes, 1,101; Dan Quayle, 916; Orrin Hatch, 558; John McCain, 83; John Kasich, 9.

Alexander suspended his presidential campaign just days after the 1999 straw poll, and Dole ended her run for the White House in October - months before the Caucus.

On caucus night, 87,666 Republican participated with Bush earning the top spot with 35,948; Forbes, 26,744; Keyes, 12,496; Bauer, 7,487; McCain, 7,487; Hatch, 898.

-- 1995

Bob Dole and Phil Gramm tied at the 1995 caucus kickoff straw poll with 2,582 votes. Buchanan finished third with 1,922, while Alexander and Keyes completed the top five with 1,156 and 804, respectively.

Dole captured first in the 1996 caucus, while Buchanan finished second. Alexander and Forbes came in third and fourth, respectively. Forbes rounded out the top five.