Mitt Romney hopped a one-way flight to Minnesota on Wednesday, the wind at his back as he emerged from a forceful victory in Florida’s presidential primary.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Romney topped his nearest rival, Newt Gingrich, by 14 points, 46 percent to 32. But even as he celebrated his Florida triumph, the former Massachusetts governor committed himself to an extended and hard-fought nominating contest that is still near the beginning.

“There are fewer candidates than when the race began, but the three gentlemen left are serious and able competitors,” Romney told a few thousands supporters who packed a ballroom in Tampa.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) came in third with 13 percent and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) was last with 7 percent in the Florida primary.

Wasting no time to linger in the state that handed him his second win of the season, Romney took off for Minnesota, where he had a midday rally scheduled in the town of Eagan. Hours later he was set to greet supporters at a factory in Las Vegas. Both Minnesota and Nevada have primary contests within the next week.

Gingrich was adamant on Tuesday that for his campaign, the road does not end in Florida. He will attend a rally in Reno, Nev., on Wednesday and has planned further events in Las Vegas.

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