As Cain was faltering amid accusations of sexual harrassment, Newt Gingrich was the last conservative to slingshot past Santorum, taking a lead over Romney in polls in November and December.

CNN: Santorum's decision came down to odds and his daughter

Clearly so, but then Mr Clinton and his legal aides presumably fear that any straightforward admission of perjury, suborning perjury or obstruction of justice would leave the president open to criminal indictment, quite apart from giving Paula Jones added reason to seek the revival of her civil case alleging sexual harrassment.

ECONOMIST: The president carries on