Poll: Majority of Republicans back Trump Russia policy | McClatchy Washington Bureau

Republicans remain firmly supportive of President Donald Trump’s overtures to Russia, even as the GOP’s congressional leaders are wary.

A new McClatchy-Marist poll found large majority of Republicans, 73 percent, appear ready to dismiss leadership’s concerns about getting too close to the longtime adversary amid worries about alleged meddling of U.S. elections and the annexation of Crimea.

Only 10 percent of Republicans actually think it’s a bad thing. Also telling is that an equal number of independents, 43 percent, think it’s as good idea as it is a bad idea to improve ties with Russia.

The results reveal the challenge congressional Republicans face trying to maintain decades-old party principles concerning Russia, views that conflict with the president’s new objectives.

“We got to get along some way or another,” said Niel McClure, 72, a Vietnam veteran and former farm manager from Cumming, Georgia. “When we go over there causing problems with Russia, it’s stupid.”

The ranks of Republicans who feel Trump acted unethically, if not illegally, are in the single digits. Trump revealed recently that his former national security adviser Michael Flynn talked to Russia about sanctions and possibly lied about it to the FBI. Trump said he didn’t direct Flynn to discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador, but he said he would have if he thought Flynn wasn't going to.

Republicans leaders on Capitol Hill want more answers. Leaders such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., have drawn a hard line against easing sanctions on Russia. Many leaders have expressed concern about Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea, threats to NATO allies as well as the attempted interference in American elections.

“It’s going to be an interesting dance between the White House and the Congressional leadership. The problem for the Republicans is, what’s the expression about the bull in the china shop, ‘If you break it, you own it,’ ” said Lee Miringoff, the director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion in New York, which conducted the nationwide survey.

Congressional Republicans will want to be careful. More than 80 percent of Republicans don’t think Trump has done anything wrong. In fact, only 7 percent of Republicans think he might have done something unethical, but not illegal. Just 2 percent think he did something illegal.

Michelle Preusch, a former corporate controller who now owns a jewelry business, feels some Republican leaders have tunnel vision and simply can’t let go of outdated policies.

“I don’t believe making enemy of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin serves us in any way,” said Preusch, 57, of Lake Mary, Florida. “Maybe Putin oversteps his bounds. That is the man he is. But to make an enemy out of him because he doesn’t see things your way 100 percent of the time, it’s not in our best interest.”

Mix in Democrats and Independents and it’s a much different perspective.

Nearly 50 percent of all registered voters think Trump’s relationship with Russia is a bad thing for the United States. Less than 40 percent think it’s a good thing.

Fifty-six percent of registered voters disapprove of Trump’s handing of foreign policy. Thirty-seven percent approve of his performance.

Fifty-three percent of registered voters think the United States’ role on the world stage has been weakened by Trump’s decisions as president. Less than 40 percent believe its been strengthened.

Fifty three-percent of disapprove of Trump’s handling of terrorism. Less than 40 percent approve.

Miringoff said Trump supporters and Republicans have helped him, but overall the views of Trump on the world state are “thumbs down in terms of how he’s performing.”

Tom Porter, a 76-year-old former athletic coordinator from Champaign, Illinois, sees Trump as his president, but doesn’t like some of the choices he’s made, particularly starting fights and possibly holding conversations with Russia.

“I don’t think that a leader should lead that way,” Porter said. “I’ve been in leadership roles and I wouldn’t think of leading that way. He’s going around half-cocked. I don’t think he’s does any research. I don’t think he’s listening to his own people.”