(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

EAGAN, Minn. - Republican presidential hopefuls took their campaigns to the American heartland Wednesday, with front-runner Mitt Romney seeking to seize on the momentum of his big Florida primary victory, while runner-up Newt Gingrich sought to convince the public he was still in the race.

Romney said his path ahead "is looking very good" as he headed to Minnesota and Nevada for campaign stops where he appeared to be setting his sights on President Barack Obama rather than battling primary rivals.

But talking to CNN on Wednesday morning, the former Massachusetts governor and businessman again made a comment that could add to voter concerns whether the millionaire candidate is in touch with average Americans.

"I'm not concerned about the very poor," he said. "We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it. I'm not concerned about the very rich. They're doing just fine. I'm concerned about the very heart of America, the 90-95 per cent of Americans who are struggling."

Romney took another run at the issue as he flew from Florida to Minnesota and reporters questioned whether he cared about the poor. Romney said he'd been saying throughout the campaign that his prime focus is on middle-income people, and that his latest comments were in that same vein.

Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, meanwhile tried to convince supporters that the primary is a two-person race.

Vowing to stay the course, Gingrich said Tuesday, "We are going to contest everyplace." He planned one appearance in Reno, Nevada, on Wednesday.

Nevada and Maine have caucuses on Saturday. Minnesota and Colorado hold contests on Tuesday. Michigan and Arizona hold primaries on Feb. 28.

Romney begins February with formidable advantages in fundraising and organization. His campaign raised $24 million in the final months of 2011, dwarfing his competitors and leaving him with $20 million to fight a primary battle that's increasingly spread across many states.

Romney has had staff and volunteerson the ground in upcoming states for months as he's prepared for a drawn-out fight for delegates to the Republican National Convention in August.Gingrich doesn't have a strong ground game as he looks to contests in states that could prove problematic for him. And in a nomination fight so far defined by debates - typicallya strong point for the former House speaker - he faces a three-week stretch without one. The candidates will next debate in Arizona on Feb. 22.

Romney, a Mormon, won Nevada's caucuses in 2008, and a substantial Mormon population there could propel him to victory. Still, Texas Rep. Ron Paul has been organizing in the state for months and could pose a strong challenge. Romney's campaign is working to paint the nomination fight as a four-candidate contest, with Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum still in the mix.

Romney's Florida win was a smart rebound from an earlier defeat and represented a major step toward the nomination. He'll receive Secret Service protection, beginning Wednesday, requested by his campaign.

Romney had 46 per cent of the Florida vote to Gingrich's 32 per cent. Santorum had 13 per cent and Paul 7 per cent; neither mounted a substantial effort in the state.