AMERICANS BACK CLINTON, POLL SAYS.(MAIN)

Byline: Washington Post

WASHINGTON President Clinton has a majority of Americans on his side as budget negotiations enter a critical new phase, while his Republican opponents face growing disapproval, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey, conducted Sunday before the agreement to end the partial government shutdown was announced, found that seven in 10 disapproved of the way Republicans in Congress are handling the budget dispute including a majority of Republicans.

The poll …