Poll: govt help is spliced by parties

PRINCETON, N.J., April 7 (UPI) -- Democrats and Republicans have differing opinions on what the U.S. government should do about the mortgage crisis, Gallup Poll said Monday.

In a survey of 1,005 U.S. adults taken March 24-27, 58 percent of Republicans indicated opposition to government intervention in assisting troubled homeowners, while 71 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of independents think aid is a good idea.

Party alignment also suggested a difference in economic perceptions. Thirty-eight percent of Democrats and 40 percent of independents polled indicated the value of their homes had decreased. Only 27 percent of Republicans polled said their homes values had declined.

Regardless of party alignment, only 6 percent of those polled in May 2006, indicated their home value was declining, Gallup reported.

The current poll carries a margin of error of plus and minus 4 percent, Gallup said.