Bill Clinton must be heaving a sigh of relief. After all, the mid-term elections were considered by many to be a referendum on impeachment.

But the comeback kid has worked his magic again. Key election battelegrounds in the US have fallen to the Democratic party.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]The Republicans had hoped to consolidate their hold over Congress, fully expecting to take seats from the Democrats like sweets from a child. But the tables were turned.

The Democratic party are predicted to make gains in the House of Representatives and look like keeping their present strength in the Senate, where they had been expected to lose up to four seats.

Evidence so far shows that the impeachment issue did little harm to the President. Women and African-Americans turned out in high numbers to support the Democratic party and many voters looked to have been turned off by the Republican's strategy.

So does this mean the U.S President has weathered the Lewinsky storm and will come out smelling of roses?

The White House said Bill Clinton was "encouraged" by the results.

Former special counsel to the President, David Gergen, thinks the First Lady's strong campaign performance played a large part in the result.

"It appears women have turned out in force and have been rallying behind Hillary Clinton in particular."

Two of the major Republican players in the moves to impeach President Clinton, Congress Speaker Newt Gingrich and House Jukiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, have retained their seats.

A victory for the Republicans would have been seen as a mandate to press on with the investigation of the President and the attempt to remove him from office, but now, with the hearings set to start in a two weeks time, the survival of President Clinton seems assured.

What do you think?

Is he off the hook?

Your reaction in full

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | ©