Iowa GOP party chair says straw poll permissible

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The head of the Iowa Republican Party says holding a straw poll is permissible under new Republican National Committee rules.

Jeff Kaufmann released a statement Thursday saying he has met with top party officials in Washington. He said those discussions made it "crystal clear" that a straw poll does not violate any RNC rules.

Critics of the poll, traditionally held in Ames the summer before a contested caucus, had questioned if the event could jeopardize Iowa's early voting status.

The committee that governs the state party will meet Saturday to vote on holding a straw poll this year.

The RNC provided an advisory opinion to Kaufmann saying the poll does not appear to violate any rules, but that the party should make clear that the event is "unofficial and unscientific."