By Bailey Harris

Rasmussen Reports has conducted several polls that center on the mortgage crisis. Between March 19 and March 20, they surveyed 1,000 adults to see how many Americans think homeowners and banks should be helped out by the federal government. Here's what they found:

Should Homeowners Who Borrowed More Than They Could Afford Be Helped Out By the Federal Government?

Of the 1,000 adults who responded to this question in Rasmussen's telephone survey, the majority said that the federal government should not help out homeowners who borrowed more than they could afford. Twenty-nine percent disagreed, saying the government should offer assistance, and 17 percent didn't know how to respond to the question.

Should Banks That Made Bad Loans Be Helped Out By the Federal Government?

Survey respondents were not as sympathetic to banks. Sixty-one percent those who answered the question thought banks should not be helped out by the federal government. Fifteen percent of people felt government action was appropriate and 23 percent were undecided.

Republicans vs. Democrats

When survey respondents were separated according to the political party they supported, the results were slightly different. Democrats were much more supportive of government assistance than Republicans.

The Democrats were almost evenly divided on the idea of help for homeowners. Sixty-seven percent of Republicans, on the other hand, were against assisting homeowners who borrowed too much. Fifty-five percent of respondents who are not affiliated with either party also opposed government help for homeowners.

When it comes to helping banks that made bad loans, only 53 percent of Democrats said they were opposed a government-led bailout of banks compared to 68 percent of Republicans. Sixty four percent of respondents with no affiliation were also opposed to a bailout of banks.

Other Mortgage Bailout Surveys

Rasmussen Reports has conducted other polls relating to the mortgage mess over the last few months. Not much has changed from poll to poll.

In a separate survey conducted in December of 2007, only 27 percent of people thought the government should assist people who couldn't make payments. In the same survey, 57 percent of respondents said troubled homeowners should buy a smaller house instead of looking for government help.

Democrats and Republicans were split back then as well. Men and women also had different opinions. Sixty one percent of men said homeowners should sell to get out of trouble compared to only 53 percent of women.