Voters have expressed little confidence in government management of the Big Three automakers, but most also felt senior managers of a company should be replaced if it is given taxpayer money to stay in business.

When funding for the troubled automakers was first under discussion in Washington in early December, 59% agreed that the top managers must go in exchange for a bailout.

Seventeen percent (17%) said senior managers do not need to be replaced, but 24% were undecided.

The chairman of General Motors, Rick Wagoner, is reportedly quitting at the request of President Obama’s auto industry task force as a stipulation for additional government loans. The government already has provided GM $13.4 billion to stay in business, and the company is seeking an additional $16.6 billion.

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Republicans, 66% of Democrats and 60% of unaffiliated voters believed senior managers should be replaced in the event of a government bailout.

At the same time, just 14% of all voters said the Big Three automakers would run better under government control.

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Americans now put corporate chief executive officers at the bottom of the list in terms of favorability, even lower than members of Congress. Particularly after the public anger over the executive bonuses at American International Group (AIG), Americans also think the government should regulate executive pay and bonuses if companies receive taxpayer bailout money.

The auto task force is reportedly sending GM back to the drawing board for more extensive plans to retool and downsize before any further taxpayer assistance is provided. Failure to satisfy the panel with additional concessions from stockholders and union workers by April 30 is likely to force the company into bankruptcy.

Just 32% of American adults had a favorable opinion of GM in early March. That was down 10 points from 42% in February and down 37 points from 69% two years ago. Both GM and Chrysler suffered bigger drops in public opinion than Ford, which is not seeking government help.

When GM and Chrysler returned to Washington in mid-February seeking additional government loans, 64% of voters said they were opposed. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters said one of the two companies was at least somewhat likely to go out of business in the next few years anyway.

A plurality of voters (44%) also believe it is better for the economy to let companies like GM go out of business rather than subsidize them to keep them in business. Thirty-three percent (33%) say subsidies are the better course to follow.

To further illustrate the situation GM is in, however, 63% of Americans say they wouldn’t buy a car from an automaker in bankruptcy. But only 12% say they would opt for a car made by a bailed-out automaker.

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