Voters Not Bothered By Latest Hillary Flap

Only 12 percent of Americans have less favorable opinions of first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton because of her imaginary conversations with Eleanor Roosevelt, according to a Newsweek poll.

Three percent said they have more favorable opinions of Hillary Clinton because of her meetings with spiritual adviser Jean Houston, who encouraged her imaginary chats with the former first lady, the poll found. Another 43 percent said the meetings didn’t affect their opinion of Hillary Clinton, and 41 percent said they hadn’t heard about the meetings.

President Clinton maintains a 16-point lead over Bob Dole, 49 percent to 33 percent, according to the poll, which was taken June 27-28 and published in the upcoming July 8 Newsweek.

But the controversies surrounding Clinton still concern the public. Sixty percent say the White House is not telling the truth about the FBI files and 35 percent say questions about the Clinton’s Whitewater financial dealings are important, the poll said.

However, 61 percent say accusations about Clinton’s sex life as Arkansas governor are unimportant, the poll found.