Public sentiment reflects the congressional stalemate over whether to toss the major U.S. automakers a $25 billion life preserver.

A Gallup Poll shows 49 percent of Americans oppose giving federal aid to the ailing Detroit Three, even if they're close to collapsing. Forty-seven percent support the idea.

If one of the manufacturers was certain to fail without the aid, the number backing Uncle Sam's help edges up to 56 percent.

Legislation providing a $25 billion loan for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler has stalled in Congress.

The poll of 1,009 adults had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.