Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #14515
 
Now That Congress Has Passed an Economic Recovery Bill ... USA Wonders Whether It Will Work: 34% of Americans think that a government rescue of the economy will succeed shortterm and 30% think it will succeed longterm, according to a nationwide SurveyUSA poll of 1,200 adults conducted after the US House of Representatives today joined the US Senate in passing a bill described by some as a "bailout" and by others as a "kick-start." But: 31% of Americans think the government plan will fail shortterm and 36% say it will fail longterm.

Americans remain of two minds:
58% have "No Confidence" in the government's ability to fix the economy.
Just 18% support the specific rescue plan that passed the congress. 44% oppose it.
But: by 4:3, Americans wanted their specific member of Congress to vote "For" the bill, a sign that Americans may have felt painted into a corner; Americans appear to grasp that doing nothing was worse than doing something.

77% of Americans have reduced spending in the past 3 months -- a bad sign for this or any economy. 60% know a friend of family member who have lost a job in the past 3 months. 52% today are concerned that the bank where they have their money will fail -- down from 57% in a SurveyUSA nationwide poll conducted before Congress had passed the rescue plan.

There are interactive tracking graphs for all of these questions. From the detailed crosstabs page, click on the "Triangle T" to reveal exactly how American opinions have changed, day-by-day over the past week, as the seriousness of the econonim situation came into increasingly sharp focus. Interactive tracking graphs are a SurveyUSA exclusive.

 
Do you have confidence? Or no confidence? In the government's ability to fix the economy?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Confidence32%31%34%34%25%35%37%30%36%31%38%32%32%43%28%22%38%33%35%27%36%38%28%28%32%27%34%35%
No Confidence58%61%55%59%65%56%46%62%52%58%50%60%65%49%59%71%52%58%54%64%53%54%62%54%56%62%58%56%
Not Sure10%8%11%8%10%9%16%9%12%11%12%8%2%8%12%7%11%9%11%8%11%8%10%18%12%11%8%9%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
Do you support or oppose the specific rescue plan that the government has worked out? Or do you not yet know enough yet to say?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Support18%21%15%17%13%24%21%15%22%19%14%14%28%23%18%14%17%22%27%14%21%21%17%8%16%16%18%23%
Oppose44%51%38%41%53%42%39%47%41%45%41%43%41%42%43%54%48%43%46%47%42%45%44%44%44%46%46%41%
Don't Know Enough37%28%45%41%33%32%41%38%35%35%43%43%29%35%38%33%34%35%25%37%37%34%38%47%40%37%36%35%
Not Sure1%0%1%0%0%2%0%0%1%1%2%0%2%1%1%0%1%0%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%0%1%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
Did you want your representative in Congress to vote FOR an economic rescue? To vote against an economic rescue? Or, do you not know enough to say?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
For45%44%45%51%38%44%43%45%43%43%43%49%53%44%49%39%38%48%51%40%47%43%48%23%43%42%45%48%
Against33%36%31%28%40%36%29%33%33%34%31%34%31%38%29%36%44%32%30%31%36%38%30%34%32%33%35%31%
Dont' Know Enough21%19%23%21%21%19%26%21%22%22%25%17%15%17%21%24%17%18%18%27%17%19%21%41%24%24%19%20%
Not Sure1%1%1%0%1%1%2%1%2%1%1%0%1%1%1%0%1%1%1%1%1%0%1%3%2%1%1%1%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
Short-term, will a government rescue of the economy succeed or fail? Or do you not know enough to say?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Succeed34%36%33%37%33%35%29%35%33%35%31%31%40%44%30%30%42%37%34%31%37%42%30%22%39%32%36%31%
Fail31%36%26%31%33%31%24%32%29%31%26%32%27%26%32%35%31%29%33%30%31%30%30%36%27%36%28%32%
Don't Know Enough33%27%39%29%33%32%45%31%37%32%39%37%33%28%37%35%25%32%32%38%30%26%39%41%31%31%34%37%
Not Sure2%1%2%2%1%1%2%1%2%2%3%0%0%2%1%1%2%1%0%2%1%2%1%1%3%1%2%0%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
Long-term, will a government rescue of the economy succeed or fail? Or do you not know enough to say?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Succeed30%31%29%37%24%27%31%31%28%29%22%43%34%34%32%21%31%31%33%28%30%31%30%17%26%32%29%32%
Fail36%42%31%36%43%38%25%39%32%39%30%25%32%35%32%49%40%34%37%37%37%39%35%35%35%37%38%35%
Don't Know Enough32%26%39%26%31%35%44%28%38%31%41%30%34%30%34%29%28%32%29%33%32%28%34%47%37%30%31%33%
Not Sure1%1%2%1%2%1%0%2%1%1%7%2%0%1%2%1%1%2%1%2%1%1%2%1%1%2%2%0%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
Have you saved enough for this rainy day? Or, do you wish you had saved more?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.7 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Saved Enough25%27%23%15%25%27%40%20%32%27%15%20%24%30%20%26%32%28%22%12%35%27%22%23%27%28%21%26%
Wish You Had Saved More69%67%71%80%70%68%51%75%61%67%80%74%73%66%74%67%62%67%73%82%60%68%73%62%64%68%75%66%
Not Sure6%5%6%5%5%6%8%5%7%6%5%6%3%4%6%8%6%4%5%6%5%4%5%15%9%4%4%7%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
Will your family make it through these times OK? Will your family suffer, but manage to pull through? Or will your family be financially wiped out?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Will Make It Through39%42%37%33%38%38%54%36%45%42%30%30%43%51%35%30%52%37%38%23%53%46%35%32%38%36%43%38%
Will Suffer But Pull Through46%46%46%47%52%45%38%49%42%45%51%50%41%38%48%53%37%50%49%55%39%41%51%45%48%49%40%51%
Will Be Financially Wiped Out12%10%13%19%9%12%4%14%9%11%14%18%12%8%14%15%9%11%11%18%7%12%12%15%10%12%15%9%
Not Sure3%2%4%1%2%5%4%1%5%2%4%2%4%2%3%3%3%2%3%4%2%2%3%8%3%3%3%2%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
Have you personally lost your job in the last three months?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.2 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Yes16%20%13%28%14%12%4%21%9%12%28%30%21%9%22%20%8%16%19%22%11%13%20%10%12%13%17%21%
No82%78%86%72%86%87%91%78%89%86%71%69%78%90%77%79%91%83%79%75%89%87%78%87%87%84%81%79%
Not Sure1%2%1%1%0%1%5%1%3%2%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%2%2%0%0%1%4%1%3%2%0%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
Has a friend or family member lost their job in the last three months?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Yes44%45%43%54%44%42%28%49%36%41%64%50%35%35%52%46%28%49%57%50%39%38%51%32%36%51%44%45%
No55%55%56%46%55%58%70%50%63%59%34%50%63%64%47%54%71%50%42%50%61%62%49%66%64%49%55%55%
Not Sure1%0%1%0%1%0%2%0%1%0%1%0%2%1%1%0%1%0%1%1%0%0%0%2%0%1%1%0%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
Have you reduced spending in the past 3 months? Or is your spending unchanged?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.4 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Reduced Spending77%75%79%84%78%74%66%81%71%75%90%75%80%74%80%77%70%79%78%85%71%74%80%78%72%77%80%75%
Spending Is Unchanged22%24%20%15%21%25%32%18%28%24%10%23%19%25%19%20%29%20%21%13%28%25%19%16%27%21%19%24%
Not Sure1%1%1%1%1%1%2%1%2%1%1%2%1%0%1%3%0%1%1%2%1%0%1%6%1%2%2%1%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%
 
How concerned are you that the bank where you keep your money will fail? Very concerned? Somewhat concerned? Not very concerned? Or not at all concerned?
1200 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeWho Will Win?Region
Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $50K> $50KMcCainObamaNot SureNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Very23%25%21%28%23%23%13%25%19%15%52%43%30%17%26%26%16%19%27%31%16%18%28%19%19%22%25%25%
Somewhat29%22%35%27%32%25%31%29%28%31%17%19%39%26%29%33%25%35%26%27%30%25%31%32%35%25%29%28%
Not Very30%31%29%27%29%33%32%28%33%32%16%30%23%34%28%24%36%28%30%25%34%34%26%34%30%33%28%30%
Not At All18%22%16%19%16%18%23%17%20%21%15%8%9%22%17%18%23%17%17%16%20%23%15%14%17%20%19%18%
Not Sure0%0%0%0%0%1%0%0%1%0%0%0%0%0%1%0%0%1%0%0%0%0%1%1%0%0%1%1%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%28%24%16%60%40%72%11%11%6%35%41%18%33%33%15%47%53%41%51%8%19%23%35%23%