Norma Metcalf, the queen of South Whidbey Republican politics, didn’t get her way in the party caucus held in the overflowing high school New Commons  Saturday morning.

Metcalf was the official campaign spokeswoman for Newt Gingrich, who has a lot in common with Mrs. Metcalf’s late husband, Congressman Jack Metcalf of Langley. Like Gingrich, Jack Metcalf was elected in 1994 and participated in the Gingrich-created Contract with America, which shook up the establishment for a few years.

As Norma Metcalf spoke briefly to the congregation of nearly 300 Republican believers, it was evident she still had faith in Gingrich, despite his well-publicized financial and marital problems over the years.

“This country is in trouble,” Mrs. Metcalf told the crowd, which listened respectfully to the woman whose Republican involvement dates back to the ’60s when her husband was first elected to the state House. “Newt’s a visionary —- but he’s tough!”

Later, she added, “Can you imagine Newt apologizing for America?”, a line used several times by different speakers that morning, all eliciting enthusiastic applause. It was in reference to President Barack Obama apologizing to Afghanistan for the inadvertent burning of several of their holy books by U.S. troops. The resulting uproar resulted in the deaths of six American troops.

But when the South Whidbey straw poll was taken at each of the 25 precinct tables, Gingrich finished a distant second to Mitt Romney, with the former Massachusetts governor receiving 123 votes and Gingrich only 45. Gingrich finished last overall in Island County.

Rick Santorum was the only candidate without an official campaign speaker present on South Whidbey, but he did get 37 votes and a few citizens stood up to speak positively of the former Pennsylvania senator who is extremely conservative on social issues.

“The Democrats really hate him,” said Brooke Sinclair, a young woman from Freeland who didn’t mince words when given a chance to speak. “If they hate him that bad he must be doing something right!” Her comments drew applause and supportive laughter from the crowd.

Mary Jane Aurdal-Olson was the campaign speaker for Romney, and she backed him for practical reasons, saying he’s capable of beating President Obama.

Steve Layman was the official speaker for Ron Paul, the Libertarian-minded Congressman from Texas.

Another man dressed in a camouflage jacket also voiced support for Paul, who would bring most of the troops home. “No Iraq war, no Iran war,” he shouted.

Shouting sometimes came from enthusiasm, but mostly from necessity as “louder!” and “we can’t hear you!” continually emanated from those in the back of the room and standing against the walls.

The lack of a microphone was no problem for John Lamontage, an older man who walked to the center of the room with the help of crutches. “In 2008 we elected an amateur,” he said in a booming voice. “Don’t do it again!”

The crowd was also asked to raise hands or voice a “yea” or “nay” on various Republican platform proposals. On gun rights, one man complained, “I left my piece at home today,” noting that he had to because of the school’s no-gun policy. “This is asinine.” He said people with concealed weapons permits don’t commit crimes.

A proposal for a “sanctity of marriage” plank drew a strong positive response from the crowd, while a “right to life” proposal received a mixed reaction. It was chalked up as a “maybe” by Jeff Lauderdale, a county commissioner candidate who oversaw that portion of the morning.

Countywide, the three caucuses drew upwards of 300 participants on South Whidbey, 500 in Oak Harbor and 220 on Camano Island, officials say. Not everyone was a registered voter so not all participated in the straw poll.

Brett Wilhelm, chairman of the Island County Republican Party, was in attendance at the South Whidbey caucus. From what he saw personally and was told later by other party officials, turnout was higher than expected and the crowds were enthusiastic but well behaved.

“I’m delighted with the turnout,” he said. “The school ran out of chairs.” Something similar happened in Oak Harbor. “But it was a civil group,” he said. “Everybody was supportive, but then Republicans in general are polite. It confirmed what we expected.”

The county convention on March 24 at Oak Harbor High School will be crowded, as the precinct caucuses selected 166 delegates and 166 alternates to go with 44 elected precinct committee officers and other elected Republican officials and party officers. They will elect 23 delegates for the state convention in Tacoma.

Island County Democrats, who don’t have to worry about picking a presidential nominee, will hold their precinct caucuses April 15 in three locations: South Whidbey High School, Coupeville Middle/High School and North Whidbey Middle School.