Pollster McLaughlin: Americans Ready to Welcome Netanyahu

There is no question a majority of Americans support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming U.S. visit to address a joint session of Congress, renowned political strategist John McLaughlin told "The Steve Malzberg Show."

"It's across the board. Republicans, Democrats, independents," McLaughlin said Friday on the Newsmax TV program.

"Americans … want to hear from our closest ally, the prime minister of Israel."

McLaughlin said while questions some other polls on the issue used language that resulted in anti-Netanyahu sentiment, his own polling was straight and unbiased.

He told Steve Malzberg:

"We said: Republican House Speaker John Boehner has invited … Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress on March 1. President Obama and some Democrats think it should be canceled because it's two weeks before an Israeli election.

"The Israeli prime minister wants to speak to the American Congress to try to stop a deal that would give Iran nuclear weapons. These negotiations are set to conclude three weeks after the prime minister's speech. Knowing this is true, would you support or oppose the prime minister coming to speak to Congress on March 3?"

Americans supported the visit 59 percent to 23 percent.

"Once they know the full case, they support it … They support the idea of hearing this … It's everyone, it's 86 percent of Republicans, 73 percent of Democrats, 79 percent of independents," McLaughlin said.

"What's driving this is ultimately people don't trust Iran. When you look at what's going on in the world right now, Iran is marching all around the Middle East."

Boehner's invite roiled the White House, which was not involved and later announced Obama will not meet with Netanyahu during his visit.

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