One of the ongoing themes of Russian history is the ongoing cultural and political struggle between Westerners and Easterners. Westerners think that Russia is a backward country that needs a huge dose of the Enlightenment–by force, if necessary. Peter the Great, Gorbachev, and Lenin were Westerners. Easterners, on the other hand, view western Europe as being corrupt and secular and put their faith in the unique, unstained Russian soul. Stalin was an Easterner, as was Nicholas II.
Putin, as an ex-KGB agent, started his political career as a Westerner. For cynical political reasons, he has adopted the views of an Easterner. That is why he works so closely with the Russian Orthodox Church.
The similarities between the Easterner/Westerner theme and the red/blue divide in this country are obvious. It is consequently unsurprising that some members of the American religious right are advocates for Putin. I will post on that tomorrow.