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(CNN) - Mitt Romney has taken the lead in Arizona with Rick Santorum in a close second ahead of the state's February contest, according to a new poll.

The American Research Group survey shows Romney with 38% support among likely Republican primary voters, followed by Santorum at 31%, Newt Gingrich at 15% and Ron Paul with 11%.

The new figures represent a significant shift since January, when a similar poll indicated Romney and Gingrich tied at 32%, Paul with 12% and Santorum with 10%.

Santorum's jump in the latest Grand Canyon State poll is another in a string of national and state-wide polling that shows a surge for the former Pennsylvania senator ahead of February 28 contests in Arizona and Michigan and 10 additional states on Super Tuesday, March 6.

While Santorum edged out Romney in Wednesday's poll among men, 37% to 30%, Romney led among women, 47% to 24% among women.

Romney also bested the other GOP candidates among self identified tea party supporters with 41% support, followed by Santorum with 34%, Gingrich with 10% and Paul with 7%.

ARG surveyed 600 likely Republican primary voters between February 13 and February 14 with a sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points.

The Republican White House hopefuls will meet on stage next in Mesa, Arizona in a CNN sponsored debate on February 22.