LETTERS:Illusory rejection of Bill Clinton

From Mrs Elizabeth Young Sir: In your leading article of 14 January, you suggested the recent elections in the United States had shown a deep rejection of President Clinton and the Democrats in general. Surely not?

There was a 38.3 per cent turnout - i.e. fewer than four in every ten Americans bothered to vote. Within that turnout, 51.3 per cent voted Republican and 46.6 per cent voted Democrat, which amounts to less than 20 per cent voting Republican and about 18 per cent voting Democrat.

Yes, the congressional apple cart has been upset, and it is a glorious victory, but what the Republican revolution is actually resting on is a 2 per cent majority among the voters - which is not tremendously impressive.

Yours, Elizabeth Young London, W2

15 January