Forget the national debate over more government loans for General Motors and Chrysler. Most U.S. voters (57%) say one of them is at least somewhat likely to go out of business over the next few years anyway.

Fifteen percent (15%) say it’s Very Likely, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

For 38%, it’s unlikely that GM or Chrysler will go out of business in the next few years, and six percent (6%) say it’s not at all likely to happen.

The two troubled automakers, faced with bankruptcy, are asking for $22 billion in additional taxpayer-backed loans, but 64% of voters are opposed. Forty-four percent (44%) say it’s better for the U.S. economy to let companies like GM fail than for the federal government to subsidize them, but 33% disagree.

Ford has not requested government help.

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All three major U.S. automakers have fallen in the public’s esteem over the past two years, but GM and Chrysler, the ones most aggressively seeking federal aid, have fallen the most.
In the latest survey, investors are slightly more confident than non-investors that at least one of the companies will close its door.

The Rasmussen Investor Index, which measures daily confidence, remains in record low territory.

Both automakers, hit with the worst car sales in years, have said they face almost certain bankruptcy if they don’t get more federal assistance.

Sixty percent (60%) of men say GM or Chrysler is likely to go out of business in the next few years, as do 54% of women.

Republicans, Democrats and voters not affiliated with either party agree by virtually identical numbers.

Faced with strong public opposition, Congress failed to adopt an auto industry bailout package late last year, so President Bush authorized loans for the two automakers. In exchange, they must report back to Washington by March 31 on their plans to retool and downsize their operations to allow for a return to profitability.

Chrysler has borrowed $4 billion and is seeking an additional $5 billion to stay in business. GM has already borrowed $13.4 billion and is seeking as much as $17 billion more.

The restructuring plans and the loan requests must be approved by President Obama’s new Cabinet-level Presidential Task Force on Autos.

Obama continues to do well in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Appproval Index, but 49% of voters trust their own judgment more than his when it comes to the economic issues affecting the nation.

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