CHEYENNE -- The results of Republican nonbinding straw polls in some Wyoming counties Saturday don't jibe with the statewide delegate selection results in favor of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

In Johnson County, for example, former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee came in first in the straw poll, while Romney was in fourth place.

Johnson County Republican precinct voters chose as an alternate delegate Bob Snowdon, who is uncommitted and was the only person nominated to attend the national GOP convention, said Jerry Eastwood, chairman of the Johnson County Republican Party.

Johnson County Republicans who contacted the Star-Tribune Monday, including Ruth Osborn of Buffalo, questioned why statewide straw poll results had not been publicized.

Osborn, a state GOP committeewoman, said in a telephone interview Monday that people were asking why the national news media were reporting Wyoming voted for Romney when her county's straw poll gave him fourth place.

"I've had several people say to me, 'Why did it come out for Romney? I'm not in favor of Romney,'" she said.

The eight national delegates for Romney represent a small sample of the state's Republicans, she said.

Of the 12 delegates selected statewide Saturday, Romney won eight, Thompson three, and Duncan Hunter one.

Tom Sansonetti of Cheyenne, who coordinated the county conventions, said Monday there was no mandatory poll.

"There was no statewide organized straw poll. Each county was given the option of holding a straw poll if they wanted to," Sansonetti said.

He said about eight to 10 of the 23 counties did hold straw polls.

He said he talked to Republican officials in five counties that conducted straw polls. Romney won four and Texas Congressman Ron Paul won one, he said.

The counties that took straw polls weren't required to turn in their numbers to the state party headquarters.

"What we wanted was how many people came to your event -- how many people were nominated and who won the delegate or the alternate, " Sansonetti said.

That was the information national news media wanted, not the straw poll results, he said. "Actually, I think it would have been a mixed message."

It was a mixed message in Johnson County and a couple of other counties.

Eastwood said everyone who attended the county convention in Johnson County was eligible for the straw poll. But only the Republicans elected at precinct caucuses earlier were eligible to vote for the alternate delegate.

"You have a convention population and you have a voting population," Eastwood said.

In Park County's straw poll, Hunter outpolled Romney 26-20, according to the Cody Enterprise's online edition. But the county delegates chose Marilyn Taylor, a Romney supporter, as an alternate delegate to the national GOP convention.

In Campbell County, Romney supporter Greg Schaefer won the delegate slot although Paul won the straw poll, according to published accounts.

Eastwood, meanwhile, said one reason Johnson County had only one candidate for the alternate delegate position was cost. To attend the national Republican Party convention Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul will cost each delegate an estimated $3,000, which that person must pay out of pocket, he said.

Contact Joan Barron at joan.barron@trib.com or by phone at 307-632-1244.