Romney stages revival ahead of critical vote

Mitt Romney is fighting his way back into the driver’s seat in the Republican presidential race, putting in a strong debate performance in Arizona and gaining in polls against conservative rival Rick Santorum.

An aggressive Romney repeatedly put Santorum on the defensive in their last CNN debate and attacked the former senator and staunch social conservative for supporting big-spending government programmes.

Romney has also battled his way into a slight lead in a new poll in Michigan, which along with Arizona will hold a primary contest next Tuesday. Romney had trailed Santorum, a former US senator from Pennsylvania, by as much as double digits a week ago in the Michigan race.