While looking for some other data, I noticed that Gallup had recently conducted a survey for the Coalition for Space Exploration. Sample of 1,000 U.S. adults. I woulnd't say the results are very encouraging for those who think NASA needs more money (and has any shot politically of doing so).

(I'd link but it's not on the public web; it's via a database my institution subscribes to).

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NASA Budget:

Since the announcement in 2004 of America's new plan for humans to return to the Moon and prepare for expeditions to Mars, the budget for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has been held at one-sixth of one percent of the total federal budget, lower than the 1% NASA originally requested in 2006. One percent would be approximately $58 per year for the average citizen. To what extent would you support increasing NASA's budget to 1% of the federal budget? Would you strongly support it, support it, oppose it, or strongly oppose it?

14% Strongly support it
38 Support it
2 Neutral
30 Oppose it
15 Strongly oppose it
1 Don't know/Refused

[DTB note: something seems wrong in the question -- it implies that NASA wanted a six-fold increase, and $58/person wouldn't be enough to give NASA that size increase. But I doubt most people did the math; it'd read this as a general "more money for NASA?"]

Space program as inspiration:

To what extent do you believe America's space program inspires young people to consider an education in science, technology, math, or engineering fields? Would you say the space program inspires these students a great deal, some, very little, or not much at all?

21% A great deal
48 Some
1 Neutral
20 Very little
9 Not much at all
1 Don't know/Refused

Gap between shuttle and Constellation:

This five-year gap in American space travel would principally be caused by a lack of money in NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) budget. How willing would you be to support an increase in taxes if the money was to go to NASA to help close this five-year budget deficit? Would you be very willing, somewhat willing, not too willing, or not willing at all?

Subpopulation/Note: * = less than .5%.

9% Very willing
34 Somewhat willing
* Neutral
32 Not too willing
25 Not willing at all

Ceding leadership to foreigners:

Both China and the US (United States) have announced plans to send astronauts to the moon. China has announced plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2017 and the US has announced plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2018, a year later. To what extent, if any, are you concerned that China would become the new leader in space exploration or take the lead over the US? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not concerned at all?

11% Very concerned
21 Somewhat concerned
1 Neutral
35 Not very concerned
32 Not concerned at all

[DTB note: a question on whether respondents would be worried by US dependence on the Russian government for access to space after 2010 got an equally unconcerned response]

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Attitudes on space are almost certainly very soft -- a dramatic event or some Presidential leadership could have a big impact. But as it stands the argument that, "we'll have depend on those Russians to get to space and the Chinese will go to the Moon before us!" seems to be met with a shrug.