Democrats at the convention here were horrified yesterday as news leaked out of a new grand jury investigation into President Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal just hours before the Vice-President, Mr Al Gore, was to make his all-important convention address.
In his speech, Mr Gore told delegates: "I've taken on the powerful forces and as President I'll stand up to them and I'll stand up for you."
But the leak could not have come at a worse time for Mr Gore. "The timing of this stinks to high heaven," a White House spokesman commented.