Clinton, Yes Bob Dole for President Politics Now

Two opinion polls yesterday showed a narrowing in Mr Clinton's huge lead over the Republican challenger and a sharp increase in the number of Americans who believe the President and his wife have broken the law.

Almost six Americans out of 10 disbelieve the White House's claim that the improper search of confidential FBI files on Republicans was merely a bureaucratic error. The row about the FBI personnel files has suddenly emerged as the single most threatening episode for the administration, more dangerous than the Whitewater affair itself.

Hillary Clinton is less trusted than her husband, and more than half of Americans, 53 per cent, believe she committed a crime in the couple's Whitewater property investments of the 1980s.

A Washington Post poll showed Mr Clinton ahead of his Republican challenger, Robert Dole, by 54 to 40 per cent, a commanding lead, but narrower than the 22-point margin he had in mid May. A Gallup poll in USA Today showed a similar trend of Mr Dole nibbling away at his rival's lead. In that poll, Mr Clinton's job approval rating fell by six points, to 52 per cent.

Scott Reed, Mr Dole's campaign manager, seized upon the polling data, arguing that his candidate's campaign was far from a lost cause. "What's driving it is an overwhelming majority of people don't trust this president," he said. He added that the "Clinton culture of corruption is setting in and beginning to take hold".

The Dole team will take good news where they find it after a terrible start to its campaign. Mr Dole seems oddly distracted and half-hearted as he tours the country to address the voters.

2 July 1996: Troubles at home dog Mrs Clinton in Europe

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