By Shira Schoenberg Globe Correspondent

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, propelled by support from conservatives, Tea Party backers, and evangelicals, tops former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in several national polls today detailing the Republican presidential race.

A poll from Quinnipiac University found Santorum with support from 35 percent of respondents, followed by Romney with 26 percent. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich trails at 14 percent was followed by Texas Representative Ron Paul with 11 percent. The poll finds Santorum with strong leads over Romney among white evangelical Christians, Tea Party supporters, and self-described conservatives. Santorum is doing better against Romney among men than among women. Romney is leading among voters who describe themselves as moderate.

A national Associated Press-GfK poll found Republicans more evenly split, with Santorum garnering 33 percent of the support to Romney’s 32 percent. But similar to the Quinnipiac poll, Santorum’s edge is more decisive among Tea Partiers, conservatives, and born-again and evangelical Christians. Romney is stronger among moderate and liberal Republicans.

Santorum may be benefiting from a race that has been increasingly focused on social issues – which appeal to evangelical voters and for which Santorum is generally stronger and more conservative that Romney. Until recently, fiscal issues – Romney’s strength – have dominated the race.