While the bailout is deeply unpopular among voters, most fear that Monday's congressional rejection could make the economy worse.
In a Washington Post/ABC News poll released today, 88 percent of registered voters say they're concerned the action in Congress could worsen an economic downturn.
Nevertheless, America is not completely convinced that the Wall Street meltdown is a matter of urgency. Barely more than half are ready to call the situation a "crisis," according to the survey.
While Americans aren't sure of the seriousness of the situation, shock waves from the congressional rebuff and the market's plunge were felt around the world.
The governments of Belgium, France and Luxembourg joined together for a $9.2 billion rescue of Dexia bank today, the latest in a series of rapid-fire European bank rescues in the last few days.
The buffeting felt overseas prompted scoldings from foreign economic leaders.
"The United States must take its responsibility in this situation, must show statesmanship for the sake of their own country, and for the sake of the world," EU Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger said.
Laitenberger added that America's economic problem "has become a global problem. The United States have a special responsibility in this situation."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel chided Congress, saying that the quick passage of a rescue package is "the precondition for creating new confidence on the markets -- and that is of incredibly great significance."
"This is a bad development," Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said and he urged U.S. lawmakers to urgently return to negotiations to come up with a deal that will prevent further infection of world markets.
Most of the maneuvering will be behind closed doors for the next day or so, but Barack Obama and John McCain weighed in on the crisis by proposing separately that the bill could win additional support if the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was given broader powers to insure savings.
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