By nearly two-to-one, Americans across all segments of the population believe the U.S. government should provide loans to American automakers, according to a poll released by Peter D. Hart Research Associates.

"Americans' broad support for providing government assistance to the auto industry is built mainly on a genuine fear that a failed GM, Ford, and Chrysler could lead to a depression," said Peter Hart, chairman of the national polling firm. "But their support also is grounded in the hope that a revitalized auto industry could mean good things for the manufacturing sector and the country as a whole."

The Hart poll, conducted Nov. 11-12, found that 55% of Americans believe that the government should provide loans to American automakers, while 30% oppose. Members of all political stripes (Democrats, Republicans and independents) support this action. By an even wider margin (64% to 25%), Americans agree with President-elect Barack Obama's stand of ensuring that the American automobile industry is able to continue to operate.

Hart said that behind the support for the automakers is a fear that the failure of GM, Ford, and Chrysler in the next few years could trigger an economic depression (with 60% believing a depression would result). Nearly 80% (79%) of Americans believe that the auto industry is very or extremely important to the U.S. economy.

The Hart poll found that Americans have deep concerns about the harmful impacts of the collapse of the U.S. auto industry:

* 90% fear the harm it would do to America's manufacturing sector.
* 84% of Americans say it would harm the U.S. economy.
* 70% fear the harm it would do to America's standing in the world.
* 68% worry about the lack of consumer choice for America's car buyers.

"The public sees in stark terms the harm it would do to the country if the domestic auto industry no longer had the resources to produce vehicles," Hart said. "It is recognition that it is the country's central manufacturing base."