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Suffolk University/USA Today Poll: Russian election meddling a concern

Chris Graham

businessVoters nationwide are concerned about Russian meddling in U.S. elections and don’t think President Donald Trump is doing enough to respond to the perceived threat to American democracy, according to a Suffolk University/USA Today national poll of registered voters.

While 58 percent of voters polled said they trust the fairness of special counsel Robert Mueller and the investigation he is leading into possible ties between the Trump’s campaign and Russian bureaucrats, 57 percent say they don’t trust Trump’s denials.

The charges lodged thus far in the investigation target 19 people–including three former Trump associates who have pleaded guilty–and three companies. Seventy-five percent of those polled said that they take these charges very or somewhat seriously, while 20 percent do not. And 69 percent believe that the Russians made a serious effort to interfere in the 2016 election.

Sixty percent said that the president is not doing enough to respond to the Russians’ alleged incursion in the elections, compared to 26 percent who said he is.

“Americans clearly are concerned about Russian influence in our system of democracy and want something done about it,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. “While the president has launched regular Tweet storms deriding the investigation, our poll shows that most voters are not swayed by that messaging.”

While 69 percent of voters said they believe the Russians made a serious effort to impact the 2016 elections, 44 percent said they don’t believe the outcome was affected, while 42 percent believe it was.

A large majority—76 percent—believe the Russian attempts to interfere in U.S. elections will continue.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].