Trump leads Clinton on three crucial issues: poll

Likely U.S. voters trust Republican front-runner Donald Trump more than Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton on the economy, job creation and immigration reform, as they aim to clinch their parties' nomination for the 2016 race to the White House, found a poll released Tuesday.

Forty-eight percent of likely voters said they trust Trump more than Clinton to handle the economy and job creation, while 39 percent trust Clinton more and 14 percent are undecided, according to a Rasmussen poll.

Trump also has a 49 percent to 38 percent lead in voter trust on immigration reform, with 12 percent undecided, found the poll.

But there's been a tightening in trust when it comes to national security, the polling company found. Last September, voters trusted Trump more, by 46 percent to 42 percent. Now it's Trump with 44 percent and Clinton with 43 percent, with 13 percent not sure, the poll found.

It is perhaps telling that Clinton does not have a sizable lead in this area, given her service as a former U.S. secretary of state, compared to Trump's years as a businessman outside of the highest councils of government. But at the same time, national security is an issue on which Republicans usually hold sizable leads, the poll found.

The controversial Trump only six months ago was seen by the majority of pundits and political prognosticators as a temporary fad that would not last, and a candidate who certainly had no chance of clinching the Republican Party nomination to run for president in 2016.

Many experts said that Americans would grow tired of his in-your-face style and controversial statements, one after another after another. But contrary to predictions, Trump continues to run strong, and is ahead of the No. 2 candidate by eight points, according to Real Clear Politics' poll average.

Indeed, many experts are now saying that Trump could well gain the nomination to face likely Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton.

While his fans are revved up about the business tycoon who says whatever and whenever he wants, critics said his talking points are all bluster and no content.

Indeed, critics on both sides of the political isle have called him out on what they have at times billed as ridiculous and unworkable policy ideas. Those include building a wall to keep out illegal Mexican nationals -- and getting Mexico to pay for it -- as well as a ban on Muslims entering the country. Endi