Poll: Help regular folks first

— -- As President Obama outlines his priorities to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, Americans overwhelmingly support new spending to help individuals — including creating jobs and rescuing struggling homeowners — but oppose bailouts for automakers and banks.

A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday finds that the new president, with a reservoir of support and a 62% job approval rating, still has a selling job to do with an anxious public focused on the economy.

On Obama's plan to help some homeowners who can't pay their mortgages, a 59% majority call the aid "necessary" — but a 51% majority also call the taxpayer-funded rescue "unfair."

"Look, the American people are pleased with the direction Barack Obama is taking, but there are still parts of the economic recovery plan that people are not sure about," says Simon Rosenberg of NDN, a Democratic-leaning think tank. "He has to make it very clear that his focus is on the struggle of everyday people, and not on those with means."

In Tuesday's speech, "he's got to say, 'We have a plan, but it's going to take awhile to work,' " says former representative Tom Davis, R-Va.

Obama's first address in the ornate House chamber will outline his legislative priorities. The White House hosted a day-long conference on "fiscal responsibility" Monday, and on Thursday the president will release a summary of next year's budget.

In the USA TODAY survey, three of four Americans say they most want to hear Obama talk about economic issues Tuesday, particularly jobs, the bank crisis and the $787 billion stimulus bill passed by Congress this month.

The federal deficit worries many: By 59%-37%, they say adding too much to the debt is a greater risk than spending too little to boost the economy.

When it comes to stabilizing banks, public attitudes vary depending on the language used. Half of the 1,013 people called in the survey were asked about the government "temporarily taking over major banks in danger of failing;" 54% approved.