Americans support the idea of the government committing billions of dollars to secure the nation's financial institutions by 45 percent to 38 percent in a survey conducted Sept. 27-29 by the Pew Research Center but that number is way down from the 57 percent to 30 percent majority such a proposal enjoyed a week ago. Republicans and Democrats backed the idea by about the same margins but independents were more evenly split at 42 percent to 40 percent in favor. The biggest fall-off in support was among Republicans (15 percent) compared to Democrats (10 percent) and independents (12 percent).

(See also the Washington Post/ABC News poll on public reaction that we posted earlier).

Sixty-one percent of all voters said they were angry about the government having to commit billions of the Wall St. rescue, a view shared by majorities in both parties and among independents. Half of voters describe thesemlves as "scared," 43 percent as "confused" and 29 percent as "optimistic."