Voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats on nine out of 10 key issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports, but the gap between the two parties has grown narrower on several of them.
Following the passage of the healthcare bill, 53 percent now say they trust Republicans on the issue of healthcare. Thirty-seven percent (37 percent) place their trust in Democrats. A month earlier, the two parties were essentially even on the healthcare issue.
These results are consistent with the finding that 54 percent of voters want the healthcare bill repealed. Rasmussen Reports is tracking support for repeal on a weekly basis. Still, healthcare ranks just No. 5 among voters on the list of 10 important issues. The economy remains the top issue of voter concern as it has been for over years.
On the economy, Republicans are trusted more by 49 percent while Democrats are preferred by 37 percent. That’s a big improvement for the GOP following a five-point advantage last month. More voters who make under $20,000 annually trust Democrats on this issue, but voters who earn more than that favor Republicans.
When it comes to government ethics and corruption, 35 percent trust Democrats, 33 percent trust Republicans, and 33 percent are not sure. Most unaffiliated voters don’t trust either of the major parties on this issue.
Republicans also have double digit advantages on taxes, national security, immigration and abortion.
Earlier last month, the Obama administration announced that it will be halting funding of the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, but 59 percent of Americans believe the United States should continue to build that fence.
Confidence that America is winning the war on terror is down slightly this month, and belief that the United States is safer today than it was before 9/11 has hit its lowest level ever.
Last month, the number of Democrats increased by just over a full percentage point and the number of Republicans increased by just under a full percentage point. This is consistent with other data showing that the health care debate heightened passions on both sides of the aisle.
Sixty-six percent (66 percent) of voters expect Washington to grow more partisan over the next year, which is just one point below the highest level measured since regular tracking of the question began in January 2009.
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