President Bush's claims aside, more Americans see rescue plan as Wall Street bailout

To President Bush, the $700-billion financial package he signed last Friday is a "rescue." And he is adamant: It may be helping Wall Street, but it was needed to save Main Street from the credit crisis.

As he put it Tuesday while speaking at an office products warehouse, "I'm recognizing reality, that this is a serious economic situation that requires strong government action."

But he's got a distance to go to convince the American people, according to a CNN/Opinion research Corp. poll.

It found that 53% think the plan is a bailout for Wall Street, but only 40% see it as providing help for ordinary taxpayers.

That's not all.

It also found that 59% saw the measure as likely to treat taxpayers unfairly, and 52% thought it a waste of money.

The poll of more than 1,000 Americans was conducted Oct. 3-5 -- the weekend after the bill was given final approval by the House of Representatives and signed immediately by Bush.

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo credit: Susan Walsh / Associated Press