Republicans Take Back Trust on Economy, National Security

Republicans have taken back voters' truston key issues of the economy and national security, according to a survey released Thursday.

While voters continue to trust Democrats more than the GOP on nine of 15 major issues continually tracked by Rasmussen Reports, a new poll finds 45 percent of likely U.S. voters now trust Republicans more than Obama's party when it comes to handling the economy --an issue Americans continue to rate as their top concern.

Forty percent trust Democrats more. As recent as January, Democrats held a 6-point lead over Republicans on the issue. Democrats had not held the economic-issue advantage in 3 1/2 years prior.

Republicans now also hold a 5-point lead (45 to 40 percent) regarding which party voters feel more comfortable with when it comes to national security and the War on Terror. It's another issue Dems held a lead on in January (45 to 41 percent).

GOP also leads on the issue of government spending. Democrats, on the other hand, are embraced by voters when it comesto health care, energy, gun control, Afghanistan, immigration, government ethics, Social Security, education and the environment.

Interestingly, neither party holds the upper hand in voters' minds about job creation, small business and taxes.