Democrats hold a narrow edge over Republicans on the issue of taxes, according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey that found voters slightly more likely to trust Democrats to handle tax policy.
The poll found that 44% of likely U.S. voters said they trust Democrats more to handle taxes, compared with 41% who said they trust Republicans more. Another 15% said they were not sure.
The results represent a shift from Rasmussen's February survey, when Republicans held a 1-point advantage on the issue, with 45% of voters saying they trusted the GOP more on taxes compared with 44% who favored Democrats.
The findings suggest voters remain closely divided on one of the central issues likely to shape the political debate heading into the midterm elections.
Tax policy has been a major focus for both parties as lawmakers continue to debate the future of tax cuts, federal spending and the nation's growing debt.
Republicans have traditionally enjoyed an advantage on economic issues, including taxes, often campaigning on promises to lower tax burdens and reduce government spending.
Democrats, meanwhile, have increasingly argued that the tax system should be used to shift more of the burden onto corporations and high-income earners while providing relief to middle-class families.
The survey comes as Congress continues to consider tax-related legislation and as both parties sharpen their economic messages ahead of the fall campaign season.
With neither party commanding a decisive lead, the results underscore the competitive nature of the political environment and suggest that voters remain open to competing arguments about taxation and fiscal policy.
Public attitudes toward tax policy often fluctuate in response to economic conditions, inflation, government spending debates and perceptions about which groups benefit from tax changes.
The Rasmussen Reports survey was conducted June 11 and June 14-15 among 1,032 likely U.S. voters nationwide.
The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.