More than three-quarters of Republicans want the party to continue to support Donald Trump, in the wake of a newly uncovered 2005 video of the world-famous businessman making crude sexual comments that surfaced just days before the second presidential debate on Sunday.
Seventy-seven percent of Republicans want the party to continue to support Mr. Trump, compared to only 13 percent who say he should drop out of the race, according to the Politico/Morning Consult poll released Tuesday.
Some congressional Republicans, including Sen. John McCain, rescinded their support of Mr. Trump after The Washington Post reported on the video Friday. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Monday told his GOP members he would no longer defend or campaign with Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump apologized after the 2005 video of him making lewd comments surfaced late last week, calling it “locker room” talk.
Overall, 46 percent of those surveyed said the video reflects Mr. Trump’s true views toward women, while 36 percent said it was “locker room banter” and does not reflect his true views.
In a head-to-head match-up in the poll, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton led Mr. Trump by 5 points, 46 percent to 41 percent. In a four-way match-up, Mrs. Clinton also had a 5-point lead, 42 percent to 37 percent, with Libertarian Gary Johnson at 10 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein at 3 percent.
Democrats had a 5-point, 44 percent to 39 percent, lead on the generic congressional ballot.
Forty-two percent of those polled said Mrs. Clinton won the second presidential debate, held Sunday, while 28 percent said Mr. Trump won. But more than eight in 10 said the debate did nothing to change their mind.
In the 2005 video, Mr. Trump talked about going after a married woman and failing, saying he “moved on her like a bitch.”
Mr. Trump also said that he is “automatically attracted to beautiful. I just start kissing them.”
“It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything,” he said.
When then-“Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush chimed in with, “Whatever you want,” Mr. Trump said, “grab them by the p—-y.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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