Religion and US Politics (Revisited)

Though the United States of America is decidedly a "religious nation" (via http://www.pewglobal.org/2002/12/19/among-wealthy-nations/) a more recent poll conducted by the PEW Research Center suggests an increasing number of citizens are wary of the mixing between church and state. Is #secularism trending right now?

Back in 2001, when PEW first asked the question, just 12 percent of Americans complained that their politicians talked too much about religion. That number has been on the rise and, in fact, hit a record high in Wednesday’s poll. Despite the divide between party lines (Democrats, historically, have always been fairly wary of the mixing of church and state) 38 percent of Americans, including 24 percent of Republicans, now say their political leaders are excessive in their expressions of faith and prayer. Additionally more Americans than ever, 54 percent, believe churches should keep out of politics entirely (up from 43 percent in 1996).

The discrepancy between Romney and Santorum supporters is also telling: 55% of Santorum-backers think politicians don't talk enough about religion, compared to only 23% of those Republicans in favor of Mr. Romney. 

Rick Santorum is quite public regarding the influence his religion has had on his platform (via ABC News) while Mitt Romney (though socially conservative) tends to avoid discussion of his Mormonism. Though evangelicals form a considerable portion of the Republican constituency, does Mitt Romney's relative success (via RealClearPolitics) suggest Rick Santorum is "too Christian"?