Wyoming Republicans award presidential delegates

By MEAD GRUVER
Saturday, January 5, 2008 9:41 AM MST

CASPER, Wyo. - Largely ignored on the national presidential campaign scene, Wyoming Republicans prepared Saturday to weigh in on the early end of the primary process by choosing the nation's first 12 presidential delegates.

Two days after the Iowa caucuses and three days before the New Hampshire primary, the early date of the Wyoming GOP county conventions was intended to draw candidates' attention to Wyoming.

Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter all stopped through the state _ visits they probably wouldn't have made except for this year's early conventions. Candidates also sent Wyoming's Republicans a flood of campaign mail.

However, Wyoming drew little national media interest compared with Iowa and New Hampshire and no candidates visited the state in the month leading up to the caucuses.

In addition, Wyoming's Republicans paid a price. The national party has suspended half of Wyoming's 28 national convention delegates. The GOP similarly penalized Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The national Republican rules say little about which delegates can't go, so the Wyoming GOP has tried to remain relevant in primary season. The state party plans to send all 12 delegates chosen at the county conventions to the national convention.

Two delegates to be chosen at the state convention in May also will take part.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articl ... vqhj81.txt