Ron Paul won a straw poll of more than 400 GOP political activists in the San Diego area, the Republican Party of San Diego County announced Tuesday.

The vote came at the party's monthly meeting in Rancho Bernardo on Monday night. Before the poll was taken, representatives of the various campaigns made pitches of their candidates. Paul, the maverick congressman from Texas, won with 30.5 percent of the vote, county GOP leader Tony Krvaric said.

"We congratulate the supporters of Ron Paul for their hard work," Krvaric said. "Clearly our party's nomination is up for grabs and the Republican electorate is as energized as ever." Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was second with 22.6 percent, and part-time La Jolla resident Mitt Romney was third with 17.4 percent.