WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (AFP-NT) - President Bill Clinton would lose out with just 48 percent of the vote against 49 percent for Republican Bob Dole if a presidential election were held now, a poll released Wednesday found. The USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll is the second in two weeks to show Clinton trailing the Republican presidential hopeful. Last month the president held a wide lead. In a December 18 poll, he enjoyed 52 percent support against 43 percent for Dole, the senate majority leader. According to the latest poll, 46 percent of Americans approve of the way Clinton has worked while 47 percent disapprove. Some 45 percent of those polled think the president has acted more responsibly than the Republicans in negotiations over the budget, which have caused two partial federal government shutdowns. Some 38 percent view the Republicans as more responsible. In a January 8 poll the findings were closer, with 38 percent thinking the president more responsible against 37 percent for the Republicans. The latest poll was based on interviews with 891 registered voters between January 12-15 and has a four percent margin of error. bd/cw/mla 171605 AFP /AA1234/171506 GMT JAN 96

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