Poll Shows Most Back Clinton

President Clinton has a majority of Americans on his side, while his Republican opponents face growing disapproval over the way they have handled the budget impasse, according to a new Washington PostABC News poll.

The survey, conducted Sunday before the agreement to end the government shutdown was announced, found that seven in 10 disapproved of the way Republicans in Congress are handling the budget dispute. And the poll indicated that last week’s government shutdown and the budget stalemate have sent the job ratings of Senate Majority Leader Robert J. Dole, R-Kan., and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., plummeting.

Overall, 56 percent interviewed said Clinton’s position on the budget issue was closer to their own, while 36 percent supported the Republicans.

A total of 827 randomly selected adults were interviewed. Margin of error is plus or minus 4 points.