Half is a very high estimate. Probably with regards to the commoners, but not among though with political influence. The Mist's backstory is woven in such a way that the Yuki are actually highly respected because they'd led the charge in exterminating an evil clan called the Hu. The Hu were in-laws to the Yuki either way so I mean bleh.Idk, even now during this 'civil' dispute, half the Mist village is 'Pro Xeno'. And the mist is only a part of it. Many witnesses from every corner of the shinobi world were there to witness what the Yuki has to offer, that point still stands. This'll likely cause many many internal conflicts when the Mist, specifically the Yuki, attempt to interact with anyone outside the mist.
Not that the interactions with them would've been sunshine and rainbows either way.
And it just hit me that Kai was out of the exams, lol.
Well he would've been out! XD
Anyways, they're respected so although Mei would have public approval on her side, she can't use that to suppress them. Among the politicians, they're all spineless cowards who know nothing but short-sighted blubbering. Mei had quite literally been cursed to death in an assembly and all that really happened was the politicians tried their hardest not to crap themselves infront of Jin. Hence why I summarily had most of them fired.