Romney wins in Wyoming

CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming chose the first delegates to the Republican National Convention on Saturday, giving Mitt Romney bragging rights by awarding him the first of the lot.

The state selected the first 12 of 14 delegates to the national convention in September. The final two delegates will be elected at the state convention in May.

The former Massachusetts governor won eight delegates, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson got three and California Rep. Duncan Hunter one.

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 New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary. Those two states have attracted most of the attention.

Wyoming had scheduled its GOP county conventions earlier to attract candidates to the state but had only modest results.

The move, which violated the primary dates allowed by the national party, cost Wyoming Republicans half of the state's usual 28 delegates.

Iowa Republicans held their caucuses Thursday, but didn't apportion their 40 delegates.

Wyoming Democrats hold their caucuses March 8.

Material from The Associated Press is included in this report.