Mitt Romney Wins Wyoming Republican Caucuses
Mitt Romney signs an autograph at a campaign stop at the Pinkerton Academy in Derry, N.H., Saturday, as he took the early lead in the Wyoming caucuses. (AP Photo)
CASPER, Wyo. — Mitt Romney captured his first win of the Republican presidential race on Saturday, prevailing in Wyoming caucuses for a much-needed boost to his candidacy three days before the New Hampshire primary.
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The former Massachusetts governor won eight delegates, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson got two and California Rep. Duncan Hunter won one, meaning no other candidate could beat Romney. Caucuses were still being held to decide all 12 delegates at stake.
The victory was a welcome development for Romney, coming two days after his loss to Mike Huckabee in the Iowa caucuses and three days before the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire. Those two states have attracted most of the political attention. Wyoming had scheduled its GOP county conventions earlier to attract candidates to the state but had only modest results.
Romney visited Wyoming in August and November and three of his five sons campaigned in the state. One son, Josh Romney, owns a ranch in southwest Wyoming.
“Number one, he campaigned here,” delegate Leigh Vosler of Cheyenne said of Romney. “I think that helped while some other candidates ignored us. But also he’s the right person for the job.”
Hunter, Thompson and Ron Paul all stopped by the state — visits they probably wouldn’t have made except for this year’s early conventions — and candidates have sent Wyoming’s GOP voters a flood of campaign mail. Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, did not visit Wyoming and drew little support. Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also did not visit and received little support.
“I think we’re encouraged that the voters in Wyoming value that my dad had spent time here,” Josh Romney said.
The traditional leadoff nomination contests in Iowa and New Hampshire have dominated the attention of both candidates and the national media in recent months, and no candidates had visited Wyoming in the four weeks leading up to the caucuses. Hunter was the last to visit the state on Dec. 4.
Tom Sansonetti, the county convention organizer, maintained Saturday that moving the state’s caucuses ahead was the right thing to do.
“The ultimate goal is not how many times we appear on Katie Couric,” Sansonetti said. “The ultimate goal was to have attention paid to rank-and-file Republicans by national candidates.”
In addition, he said more Wyoming Republicans have become involved in the process.
Wyoming Republicans also paid a price for jumping ahead. The Republican National Committee has slashed half of Wyoming’s 28 national convention delegates. National party leaders similarly penalized Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire and South Carolina for moving up the dates of their nomination contests.
RNC rules require the punishment for states that hold their nominating contests earlier than Feb. 5. Iowa, which held caucuses on Thursday, will not be penalized because, technically, the caucuses are not binding on convention delegates. Nevada, which plans to hold its caucuses on Jan. 19, will not be penalized for the same reason.
Besides the 12 delegates chosen at Saturday’s county conventions in Wyoming, two delegates to be chosen at a statewide convention in May will also be sent to the national convention in Minneapolis.
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Dean,
That’s ok if you think Mormons are a cult. It doesn’t say anything about Mormons being a cult in the Bible, so if YOU read your bible you would know that. However, Christians were considered a cult in its infancy stage, so just be patient and you will soon see how God works among men who try to thwart his truth.
Mitt Romney is the only canidate to complete in all GOP contest thus far. I was impressed with his last debate. It is very clear he is being punished for his religion. I am catholic and do not defend his religion but recognize discrimination when I see it. Keep going Mitt!!!!!!! I think in the end you will prevail and if not then it is truly a lost for our country. You and your family worked very hard and earned the privalge to serve our country. I think Mitt Romeny should tell more about his past including the car accident in France and how he met his wife. Most of America would fall in love with the story because it shows a person who is passoinate about his beliefs.
You go Mitt!!! Only candidate to explain what he intends to do as President. Get real people!
Before I’m branded as a bigot, let me clarify my position. I also will not vote for McCain. I do not believe he is right for America. Hillary I consider to be the most evil person on the planet, possibly even ahead of Osama. She is a socialist. The G man is lost too. Too slick, no real morals. Romney will just flip flop all over the place and tell you what you want to hear. Politics as usual. We need new blood. Someone who really cares about America, not just their political party and making the other guy look bad. The only person I have seen lately with that kind of integrity is not even running. He was a democrat until the party turned their back on him because he voted for what he thought was right and not the party line. I do want a Christian leader. This is a Christian country and was founded as such. Read you history. Please pick up a book and read, don’t take my word or anyone elses. Educate yourself, don’t listen to government run schools, go to your library. Don’t listen to someone elses spin. Make your own decision based on knowledge.
I will not support Romney. I am a longtime republican, but I will vote for Obama over Romney. I consider his relegion to be a cult, not a relegion. If you read your Bible, you will know this.
Funny how this story never made it to the tube. As I flip through the various channels., you would think it was all about “Loser” McCain and “Wimpy” Huckaburger. Does the media already have their favorites? I have also noticed the extreme attention Hillary is getting considering she is sliding down fast. Romney needs to be the next GOP - he is younger and can relate to our generation, is opposed to raising taxes and comes across more as a leader than wimpy Huckaboo or the Bobe Dole of 2008 (McCain).
I am not voting for any GOP candidates, and even though Romney is a flip-flopper, he is the most viable candidate. Just wanted to comment you evangelists nut jobs bashing Mormonism and any other religion that isn’t yours. So,e of these people are like sheep, only voting for a candidate because of their religion and because they want church and state to be one. He doesn’t bring his religion into politics like Huck, only his values. He is not perfect, everyone lies, especially politicians. Even though he won’t win, he his probably the best chance the GOP has. He seems the most presidential. On the left Obama seems the most presidential, and will probably win in 2008.
Maybe I am getting paranoid about others out to defeat Romney more than to find/support anyone who might be better ?
— but then maybe I’m not paranoid–
1. After seeing so many attacks on Romney right on TV!!!
2. while with how little in the news was about the anti Mormon phone calls
3. and mailings in Iowa,
4. plus the 100 pastors getting a NEWS APPROVED personal talk from Huckabee to “‘redeem’ the vote”- while they “stake out” SLC church and EVEN BYU offices to be sure NO ONE from Romney goes in! Mormons weren’t even allowed to get a lit of BYU alumni to mail to!!!
It IS getting rather scary- the double standard here!
Then today, when I tried to do some callathome for Mitt, somehow the program that worked JUST FINE for me before, said my phone number was invalid??? So is it getting paranoid- wondering if some hacker has broken into Romneys site to thwart his workers???? too weird!!!