Clinton praises Gore rivals

Oslo - The US President, Mr Clinton, praised rivals of the Vice President, Mr Al Gore, in the campaign for the White House yesterday…

Oslo - The US President, Mr Clinton, praised rivals of the Vice President, Mr Al Gore, in the campaign for the White House yesterday, saying the Republican, Mr George W. Bush, had good political instincts and calling Democrat Mr Bill Bradley an intelligent, compelling man.

Mr Clinton told the CBS Early Show in an interview broadcast yesterday that he thought Mr Gore was doing a good job in his campaign and that if he managed to establish his own identity and programme he would win the Democratic nomination.

But he saved his strongest compliments for Mr Bush, the Texas governor, who is the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, suggesting he had a good feel for the political centre that Mr Clinton has tried to occupy in the White House.