Poll Tracker

Democrats gave the package the strongest support, by 48 percent to 31 percent, while Republicans opposed it 45 percent to 41 percent and independents by 47 percent to 36 percent. Voters are also divided on whether they are optimistic or pessimistic about whether the bailout plan will work, with pessimists leading 45 percent to 42 percent. Independents expressed the greatest pessimism, by a 54 percent to 32 percent margin.

Thirty-nine percent of voters said Congress acted too hastily compared to 29 percent who said lawmakers gave it the right amount of consideration and 23 percent said they took too long debating. That was a 17 point job in the number of voters who thought Congress was being too hasty before the final vote.

A Gallup poll conducted Oct. 3-5 produced a somewhat different result with 50 percent of those surveyed saying it was a good thing that Congress passed the bailout bill compared to 41 percent who disagreed.

A CBS News poll conducted Oct. 3-5 said registered voters disapproved the bailout plan by 51 percent to 31 percent with 18 percent undecided. The disapproval cut across party lines although the margins were greater among Republicans and independents.

Voters said by a 2-to-1 margin that the plan will help Wall Street more than the whole country.

Seventy percent disapproved of Bush's handling of the financial crisis.

That negative view was exceeded only by the job approval ratings for Congress which were 73 percent negative to 15 percent positive.