Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at a rally at the Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire on January 7, 2012. Romney is campaigning ahead of the New Hampshire primaries which will be held on January 10. Romney was joined on stage by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (L) and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

CONCORD, N.H., Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney holds a big lead in New Hampshire polls, but support for Rick Santorum is gaining steam, polls indicated.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Romney holds a substantial lead in the latest WMUR-TV/University of New Hampshire poll of Republican New Hampshire voters, with 44 percent, The Hill reported Friday.


Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is second at 20 percent, a high point for him in polls in New Hampshire.

Former Sen. Santorum of Pennsylvania, tied with Newt Gingrich in third place at 8 percent, has seen the largest gain in polls after finishing eight votes behind Romney in the Iowa caucuses.

More than three-quarters of those polled -- 77 percent -- said they believe Romney will be the Republican nominee and almost six in 10 voters said they also believe he has the best chance of beating President Barack Obama.

Roughly one-third of those polled said they were still unsure of who they will vote for in Tuesday's first-in-the-nation primary.

No margin of error was reported.