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One other potential problem is in-fighting at the White House. Ickes and Morris, the twin planets of the Clinton re-election team, barely tolerate each other. They are the poster boys of the opposing White House camps: liberals vs. moderate New Democrats. Morris has solidified his role as Clinton's guru of choice. One night a week, usually Wednesday, he leads a campaign meeting at the residence that includes the President, Vice President, Sosnik, Bob Squier (the campaign media adviser brought in by Morris and Gore), Stephanopoulos and other senior aides. Ickes apparently bridles at Morris' highbrow musing about the Hegelian dialectics of campaigns.
So far, nobody is gloating yet in the White House. "It's not too early to be encouraged," says Sosnik. "But it's too early to be complacent." Clinton's numbers are nothing to crow about: a 50% approval rate does not a landslide make. "Of course, right now," says Carville, "you'd rather be us than them."
--Reported by James Carney and J.F.O. McAllister/Washington