Do You Trust Bill Clinton?

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 18) -- In 1992, it was the economy. But one of Sen. Robert Dole's top advisors says the issue in this fall's presidential campaign will be character.

If Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is right, it could foreshadow a nasty, personal campaign that will pull up all the old "Slick Willie" images that have plagued Bill Clinton through his career.

McCain, mentioned as a possible running mate for Dole, said the main theme of the fall campaign will be "leadership, character and experience."

"One of President Clinton's weaknesses is when we get into the trust factor," McCain told the Reuters news service. "Do you trust President Clinton? Large numbers of Americans simply do not."

Republicans believe they can win a race that turns on character issues. Dole was wounded in World War II, while Clinton avoided the draft during Vietnam. Clinton also has fended off charges of womanizing and the first couple remains ensnarled in the Whitewater land deal controversy.

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Do You Trust Bill Clinton?

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