Most Americans doubt stimulus and bank bailouts helped, poll finds

Just a third of Americans believe the $862 billion stimulus helped the job situation and just four-in-10 thought bank bailouts prevented a worse financial crisis, according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted this week. 

Less than a third -- 31 percent -- said the government made progress in fixing the economic problems coming out of the financial crisis.

The ongoing public pessimism on the economy comes despite the most recent labor report showing a net increase of 162,000 jobs in April, the most significant monthly increase since 2007. The unemployment rate is at 9.7 percent, down from the 10.2 percent rate seen last year but still above the roughly 6 percent rate seen before the crisis. 

The numbers seem to be translating into less confidence in President Barack Obama and Democrats six months before the November midterm elections.

Obama's job approval rating is 47 percent. On the economy, his rating is 38 percent. 

Americans are basically split -- 36 percent for Republicans and 37 percent for Democrats -- when asked which party would do better in dealing with the jobs issue.