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Bill Clinton hits out at Gina Gershon rumour

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BILL Clinton has lashed out at reports that he had an inappropriate relationship with a Hollywood actress which have sparked a frenzy of speculation on the web.

The distraction is arguably the last thing Hillary Clinton needs as she grapples with what many expect to be the last days of her presidential campaign.

The former president`s private life is examined in extensive detail in a major profile piece in the current edition of Vanity Fair. Entitled "The Comeback Id", the piece paints a picture of Mr Clinton living the high life with a "rat pack" of rich mates "seeing a lot of women on the road".

The article says there is "no proof of post-presidential sexual indiscretions" despite a "steady stream" of tabloid and internet speculation. It then elaborates on the rumours - naming Canadian MP Belinda Stronach and actress Gina Gershon, perhaps best known for her roles in B-movie Showgirls and Face/Off.

The claim takes up one paragraph of a 10,000-word profile but brought a stinking rebuke from Mr Clinton.

"A tawdry, anonymous-quote-filled attack piece, published in this month’s Vanity Fair magazine regarding former President Bill Clinton repeats many past attacks on him, ignores much prior positive coverage, includes numerous errors, and ultimately breaks no new ground," his office said.

The article also examines Mr Clinton`s impact on Senator Clinton`s campaign. At first he was seen as overshadowing her but later his attempts at punditry were seen as costing her support.

Overnight, he told a rally of Senator Clinton supporters that her concession could be approaching. "This may be the last day I`m ever involved in a campaign of this kind," he said.

The Clinton-Gershon report set off a flurry of activity on the web. "Gina Gershon" became the third-ranking search term on Google Trends - although at least part interest of that may be attributable to fans.

The National Review noted the timing of the article in its presidential campaign blog: "A story on her husband`s possible additional infidelities, appearing 48 hours before her campaign probably comes to an end, feels a little like kicking Hillary when she`s down."

The article`s author Todd Purdum, on CNN, said all his sources were former or current employees of Mr Clinton and that no Republicans or backers of Barack Obama contributed to it.

Senator Obama is expected to claim the Democratic nomination for the presidential election sometime this week. South Dakota and Montana vote in the last primaries tomorrow.

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