With Chrysler in a government-supervised bankruptcy and General Motors expected to follow suit any day now, Ford is stretching its lead as the most highly regarded of the Big Three automakers.

But while previous surveys have shown a continuing drop in favorability for the two bailed-out companies, GM and Chrysler have rebounded slightly in a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans now have a favorable opinion of Ford, up 10 points from 51% in early March. This includes 24% who now have a Very Favorable opinion of Ford, compared to 14% three months ago. Twenty-six percent (26%) view Ford unfavorably.

As for GM, 44% of Americans regard them favorably, including 12% who have a Very Favorable opinion. This compares with 32% favorables in early March. Forty-eight percent (48%) now have an unfavorable opinion of GM, down from 60% in the previous survey.

Forty percent (40%) view Chrysler favorably, up from 33% in March. But 52% have an unfavorable opinion of the bankrupt automaker, although that’s down seven points from 59% in the last survey.

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Among investors, 69% have a favorable regard for Ford, nearly 30 points higher than their view of GM and Chrysler. But then most voters say GM or Chrysler is likely to go out of business over the next few years anyway.

Investors hold the two bailed-out companies in similar regard. Forty-one percent (41%) favor GM, while 51% have an unfavorable view. Chrysler is seen favorably by 42% of investors and unfavorably by 50%.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of Americans say Ford is the Big Three auto company which has the best chance of surviving and becoming profitable again.

The lower favorability ratings for GM and Chrysler may reflect the consistent opposition many Americans have had to federal bailouts for the automakers.

Looking back, 60% of voters say the taxpayer-backed loans to GM and Chrysler were a bad idea.

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