WASHINGTON, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - Nearly nine out of ten Americans believe Congress' failure to pass a financial system rescue package has worsened the crisis, and 44 percent blame the Republicans, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday.

Fully 88 percent of Americans said the collapse of the bailout bill took the country even deeper into crisis, and 51 percent said they were very concerned.

Forty-four percent of those surveyed blamed the Republicans while 21 percent put the blame at the Democrats' feet.

In scenes of suspense and shock rarely seen on the House floor, Republican conservatives and rebel Democrats, many fearing a vote for the 700-billion-dollar bailout could cost them their seats, joined to doom the bill Monday by 228 votes to 205.

Americans were deeply divided on the content of the plan: 45 percent said they support it while 47 percent were opposed, the poll showed.

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's plan did too little for ordinary Americans.

President George W. Bush was blamed for the current financial morass by 25 percent while 18 percent blamed financial institutions themselves, eight percent the government and eight percent the Democrat-led Congress.

The survey of 424 voters was taken late Monday, with a five-point margin of error.