Poll: Women support Clinton

NEW YORK, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani's personal life may be costing the former New York mayor support among women, a new poll indicates.

The national poll of women voters reveals women are discouraged by Giuliani's then-extramarital affair with his now-wife Judith Nathan and his messy divorce, the New York Daily News reported Sunday.

The poll, conducted by the newspaper, showed that in a head-to-head match-up with Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, the Democratic front-runner, she would have the support of 45 percent of women voters, compared to 30 percent for Giuliani.

Respondents also said they have misgivings about Clinton's personal life, the newspaper said.

Forty percent of respondents said they think Clinton stayed with her husband, then-President Bill Clinton, after his affair with Monica Lewinsky for political advantage. Just 31 percent said they believe she genuinely forgave him.

The Daily News poll also found women generally have not bought into the central themes of the two campaigns: that Giuliani would be best able to keep America safe from terrorists, and that Clinton's election to the White House would be a milestone for women.