Here’s the good news, politically speaking, for the GOP:

The latest Rasmussen Reports national opinion survey found that 37% of Americans now trust Republicans more than Democrats on the issue of immigration. Just 31% trust the Democrats more.

In late March , the two parties were perceived equally on the topic, with 38% favoring the GOP and 37% preferring the Democrats.

More interesting polling data (all released yesterday) on immigration. A SurveyUSA poll of 500 adults in Phoenix shows 47% believe the recent pro-immigration protests are “creating a backlash,” while 30% believe the mass demonstrations have helped the protesters “achieve their goals.” Asked if “people who enter the United States illegally” make the country a better or worse place, 73% chose “worse” and only 21% “better.”

The same questions were asked in a SurveyUSA poll of 500 Denver adults: 50% believed the demonstrations were backlashing, while 28% found them benefiting the protestors; and the worse/better breakdown was 71% to 24%. That worse/better question brought a 76% to 14% margin in a Little Rock <a href=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=69909b94-2299-4992-82c3-5310c7e09ec2?SurveyUSA poll, while in Wichita, 82% of those polled by SurveyUSA want to “increase border security to keep illegal immigrants from entering the U.S.” (14% oppose such) while 73% believe the government should “attempt to find and deport those who are in the U.S. illegally” (only 20% oppose such).