Fesler and other Santorum backers had hoped to keep Santorum supporters together to advance their own slate even though their candidate had dropped out of the race earlier in the day.

The goal, some said, was to make sure socially conservative issues would be in the national GOP platform.

But Fesler said there was no question their numbers dropped because of Santorum’s announcement.

Buddy Hardin, a Romney campaign leader in the county, took a philosophical view, noting that Romney is now the presumptive nominee given Santorum’s departure from the race.

"Today we won the war so losing the battle tonight doesn’t quite have the same sting," Hardin said.

He said he began working for Romney’s bids for the GOP nomination in 2006. "I can go to bed tonight knowing that has been accomplished, and we can look forward to November," he said.

In St. Charles County, the combined numbers for Santorum and Romney slates didn’t equal those for the Paul slate.

Early in the meeting the Paul contingent flexed its muscle when it elected Stafford, of O’Fallon, Mo., as the caucus chairman.