In the Duncan Hunter camp, the few dozen supporters enjoyed homemade ice cream from a machine that traveled from San Diego to the Ames event. Roy Tyler, communications director, grilled a peaches-n-cream variety of sweet corn slathered with barbecue sauce across the way.

Hunter, talking with supporters and voters, said Saturday was the start of his campaign, calling his first time at the straw poll event "fun" and saying "it's been great."

The California congressman said he didn't pay for supporters to attend the event. He said he wasn't criticizing those candidates who did pay for their supporters' $35 tickets, but he wanted people to know the voters who cast ballots for him paid their own way.

"I have talked to people who said they heard my speech and voted for me," Hunter said, as he sat to eat an ear of sweet corn.

Hunter planned on attending a debate Sunday at the Iowa State Fair.

-- By Gwen Tietjen