Romney holds two-point lead over Santorum in latest poll

  Mitt Romney has a small lead over Rick Santorum in Michigan's Republican presidential nominating race, a new poll released Sunday says.

  Romney is at 39 percent to 37 percent for Santorum, 13 percent for Ron Paul and 9 percent for Newt Gingrich, according to Democratic polling firm Public Policy Polling.
  Romney has gained ground among Republican voters in the past week while Santorum has stayed the same, the poll notes.
  The poll suggests Santorum may have hurt himself with an over emphasis on social issues.
  In other points the PPP poll points out:

• Romney has a large lead, 62-29 among Republicans who say they've already cast absentee ballots.
• Romney has gained ground with tea party groups and Evangelical voters, although Santorum is winning among those groups.
• Romney holds a significant lead among seniors, 50-34 percent.
• Romney holds a 40-29 percent lead over Santorum among union households, suggesting his position on the auto bailouts isn't a problem in Michigan's primary.
• Only 5 percent of likely voters are Democrats and they're split between Romney and Santorum.

PPP surveyed 421 likely Republican voters Sunday through automated telephone calls. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percent.
  Michigan and Arizona hold their presidential primaries Tuesday.