Local WCFCourier on today's presidential straw poll in Ames, Iowa:

With only days to go before the Republican Party of Iowa's Straw Poll, analysts say perhaps 10 percent to 20 percent of the people who plan to go to Ames haven't made up their minds whom they're going to support.

... Social and evangelical conservatives within Iowa's Republican Party have not anointed a clear standard-bearer heading into Saturday's poll, clouding the picture even more.

... Bob Vander Plaats, who played a lead role in Mike Huckabee's 2007 Iowa campaign, said this year's straw poll is shaping up to be a contest between Minnesotans Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty with U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas also threatening a finish among the top two.

However, he said former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum "is really catching fire of late" by campaigning in less-traveled areas.