Mitt Romney Leads in Wyoming Republican Caucus

Mitt Romney appeared to be sailing towards a win in the much ignored Wyoming Republican Caucus.  The former Massachusetts Governor had nearly 75% of the total delegates with Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter each getting one apeice with 67% of the precincts reporting at 3:45 pm EST

Republican hopefuls Romney, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter 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.

However, 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 have visited Wyoming in the four weeks leading up to the caucuses. Hunter was the last to visit the state on Dec. 4. State GOP officials have acknowledged that they don't expect Wyoming's contest to have any real impact on which candidate wins the nomination.

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."

The odds of Mitt Romney becoming the next US President have slipped from 8-1 to 10-1 in recent days following his second place finish to Mike Huckabee in Iowa.  Huckabee had not gained any delegates in Wyoming at press time.   (odds available here)

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Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com

Originally published January 5, 2008 3:50 pm EST