There were conflicting polls today on how Americans feel about the Wall Street bailout but the differences probably have to do with the wording of the questions.

A Pew Research Center survey conducted Sept. 19-22 said the public favors the idea of the government bailing out Wall Street by 57 percent to 30 percent with 13 percent undecided. The highest level of support is among Republicans who back such action by 64 percent to 28 percent, but more than half of Democrats and independents approve as well. But surveys by Rasmussen Reports, Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg and Washington Post/ABC News present different perspectives.

The respondents in the Pew poll held their view is held even though most of them gave low marks so far to the government on its handling of the crisis. Only 2 percent said the government's performance was excellent, 17 percent graded it "good" and 77 percent said it was "only fair" or poor. Fifty-six percent say they are closely following the news of the current crisis but only 24 percent say they understand the problems on Wall Street very well.