Romney wins Florida primary

Mitt Romney decisively won Florida's Republican presidential primary Tuesday, surging back into front-runner status after losing by double digits to Newt Gingrich in South Carolina, CNN reported.

Romney's victory was widely anticipated after pre-primary polls showed him well ahead of Gingrich. He walked away with 50 delegates from the winner-take-all contest.

Romney won the New Hampshire primary and lost the Iowa caucuses to Rick Santorum by 34 votes. Florida, with its multiple big cities, well-developed suburbs and semi-rural Panhandle, is by far the most diverse state to vote so far.

Gingrich, the pugnacious former House speaker, has vowed to fight on, meaning Romney will have continue to expend resources in upcoming contests, starting Saturday in Nevada and Maine. Rep Ron Paul of Texas, a libertarian favorite, and Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator popular among social conservatives, are also continuing to compete.