It's not Iowa or New Hampshire, but Mitt Romney has a caucus victory nonetheless.

Romney, who finished second to Mike Huckabee in Thursday's Iowa Caucus, received support Saturday from eight of Wyoming's 14 delegates during the Western state's under-the-radar Republican caucuses.

Former Tennessee U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson received three delegate votes, and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California earned one. Two delegates did not declare a presidential choice.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, 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.

"No. 1, (Romney) campaigned here," said delegate Leigh Vosler of Cheyenne. "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 likely 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 U.S. Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also did not visit and received little support as well.

"I think we're encouraged that the voters in Wyoming value that my dad had spent time here," Josh Romney said.

No candidates visited Wyoming in the four weeks leading up to the caucuses. Hunter was the last to visit the state, on Dec. 4.

Wyoming GOP officials were hoping to give smaller states a louder voice in the presidential nomination process by holding its delegate selection at county conventions two months earlier than usual.

The state's Republican Party didn't receive the attention it was hoping for, however, because the Wyoming caucus was sandwiched between the Iowa and New Hampshire events.

"With Iowa and New Hampshire, we're so used to having them go first," said Amy Larimer, executive director of the Wyoming Republican Party. "I think Wyoming has been overlooked."

It also will be underrepresented at the Republican National Convention on Sept. 1. Wyoming was penalized 50 percent of its GOP delegates — dropping its total from 28 to 14 — for holding its caucus before Feb. 5, the date set by the national party as the earliest in which states can choose national delegates.

Larimer said the Wyoming GOP contingent wanted to make a statement by going early in an attempt to change the national party's rules.

"We want to have a voice and speak up for the smaller states," she said. "Utah would be included in that as well."

Utah has its own primary scheduled for Feb. 5, which is being called "Mega-Tuesday" because so many states are holding primaries that day.

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E-mail: jpage@desnews.com
Contributing: Ben Neary, Associated Press