Ames, Iowa – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) predicts that some presidential candidates may “drop out” if they do not place near the top of today’s straw poll. “Some people are going to decide that they don’t have much of a chance of conducting a national campaign,” he says.

On the entry of Gov. Rick Perry into the race, Grassley says he is unsure of the Texan’s strategy. “I’m not sure what his strategy is, maybe there was no strategy,” he says. But he is not critical of Perry for crowding the news cycle. “Maybe it’s just a matter of coincidence,” he says.

With regard to a possible endorsement, Grassley is still on the fence, though has a new timeline: He will likely decide by October. “It could be that I would not endorse anybody,” he cautions. “I’m still very open.”