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Romney, Santorum leading ahead of Super Tuesday

Posted at 1:02 PM, Mar 05, 2012
and last updated 2012-03-05 13:02:13-05

(CBS News) - The day before Super Tuesday, Mitt Romney fought hard to widen his lead in Ohio. Ohio is the most-watched race out of 10 Super Tuesday contests.

A new Quinnipiac poll showed Romney gained ground -- and rival Rick Santorum slipped a bit. The two are now virtually tied.  Romney tried to convince voters he is the best choice to shore up the nation's sagging economy.

"I understand what is takes to make a business thrive and what it means when government gets in the way," Romney said on the campaign trail.

Rick Santorum argued the fact Romney has a big financial advantage and hasn't wrapped up the nomination yet shows voters aren't convinced the former Governor is the best candidate to challenge President Obama.

"The race isn't going to be won or lost in the Fall on money. This race is going to be won or lost on someone who can capture the imagination of the American people," Santorum said.

Newt Gingrich has focused his campaign on Georgia, the state he once represented in Congress.

"I think I'm beginning to come back to my real job which is to be sort of the visionary conservation who offers bigger, better solution," Gingrich said Sunday on Face the Nation.

Ron Paul headed to Alaska to campaign, he is the GOP candidate to visit the state this year.

Romney picked up a pair of endorsements from well-known conservative Republican lawmakers. Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor -- and, Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn officially backed the former governor over the weekend.

Only Romney and Paul qualified to appear on the Super Tuesday ballot in Virginia.