And in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Mr Gore said he believed the Senate will reach "a considered judgment" to end what he called "a hot flash of partisan extremism."

The newspaper said the vice-president suggested that he might have to cast a tie-breaking vote in pretrial motions.

The vice-president presides over the Senate, although Chief Justice Rehnquist will be in charge of the trial itself.

The vice-president, who unsuccessfully sought to persuade the House of Representatives not to impeach Mr Clinton, might be called on to vote in such procedural matters as the admissibility of evidence.

But the former Tennessee senator's discussions are clearly at an early stage. According to the newspaper, he emphasised twice during the 40-minute interview that his views were based on "questions of first impression" still being researched by his staff.

No pressure

He also stressed that he did not intend to "buttonhole" his former Senate colleagues, because "that would not feel appropriate."

However, Mr Gore added, "if a senator who's a close friend calls me up or comes to visit and asks me, 'What do you think about this or that?' I'm certainly going to feel free to communicate with them in full."

One week ago Congress approved two articles of impeachment against Mr Clinton for his role in the Lewinsky affair: perjury and obstruction of justice.

The Senate is expected to begin a trial next month. Momentum has been growing for a censure motion to replace a full trial.

Several Democrat senators, including Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and Daniel Moynihan of New York, have come out in favour of this option.