As pressure increases on President Clinton to give a fuller explanation and apology for lying over his affair with Ms Monica Lewinsky, he ignored the issue in a public appearance yesterday.Interrupting his low-key holiday on Martha's Vineyard, Mr Clinton travelled to Worcester in Massachusetts to deliver a speech on preventing school violence.With Massachusetts politicians such as Senator Edward Kennedy on the platform showing solidarity with the beleaguered President, he roused the audience by praising the economy and setting out an ambitious work programme for the months to come.He urged Americans to "act more boldly" in shoring up a secure future for themselves and future generations. "There is critical business ahead of us, business we'll take up as soon as Congress comes back to work."Mr Clinton's economic message was somewhat marred by the panic selling on Wall Street as a result of the turmoil in Russia and rumours of President Yeltsin's resignation.Republican critics said it was futile for the President to try and distract the public from the crisis over his political future as the Independent Counsel, Mr Ken Starr, prepares to send a damaging report to Congress about his eight-month investigation into the Lewinsky affair.White House aides are alarmed at increasing signs that Democrats are still in shock over the President's admission of an affair with Ms Lewinsky after his public denials which they had accepted in good faith.Americans for Democratic Action, normally a staunch supporter of the President, has condemned him for causing "immeasurable damage to the nation and the presidency". The ADA, which represents the liberal wing of the Democrats, said that Mr Clinton "chose to abuse his power" over the former White House intern and then lied about it for his own "private gain".Negative comments by Mr Dick Gephardt, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, have also caused dismay in the White House. Mr Gephardt who is seen as Vice-President Al Gore's main rival for the party presidential nomination in 2000, said he found Mr Clinton's behaviour "reprehensible".Mr Gephardt, to the anger of the White House, also talked about the possibility of impeachment, but said later that his comments had been misinterpreted and that he still supported Mr Clinton.Democratic Senator Russell Feingold said it would be "very difficult" for the President to restore his credibility following his admission of an affair with Ms Lewinsky.The calls for the President's resignation from a wide swathe of so-called media "elites" and the critical reaction of many Democrats to the Mr Clinton's speech have prompted his advisers to consider a new initiative. Aides are nervous about the President being questioned about the Lewinsky affair at his joint press conference with President Yeltsin in Moscow next week.Hence the speculation about a new initiative which could be a further address to the nation or a statement. A prayer breakfast with religious leaders after Mr Clinton's return from Russia and Ireland is mentioned as a possible setting for a further statement.Meanwhile, there was bad news for Mr Al Gore with the announcement by the Attorney General, Ms Janet Reno, that she has ordered a new inquiry into whether he broke the law in the fund-raising for the 1996 Presidential election. The preliminary investigation is the second one into Mr Gore's fund-raising.At the end of 90 days, Ms Reno will decide whether there are grounds to ask for an independent counsel to make a full investigation. This could last for years and embarrass Mr Gore if he campaigns for the presidency.