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U.S. NEWSMonday 5 October 2015

Seeking a candidate to love, voters find Clinton one to like

LISA LERER ticulate. Cllinton. Most Democratic voters doubt her competence,

KATHLEEN RONAYNE “She certainly could man- But the unenthusiastic re- say they would back Clin- with many citing her exten-

Associated Press age the country,” said Jim action her candidacy re- ton in the general election. sive experience in Wash-

DERRY, New Hampshire Gallagher, a 61-year-old ceives from some Demo- But some said Clinton is try- ington as an asset.

(AP) — Inside the arena, real estate investor from cratic voters underscores ing to co-opt Sanders’ mes- “I think in 2008 she was

the roar was deafening Manchester. “But she just a central issue facing her sage, hoping to woo liberal more standoffish and this

when Hillary Rodham Clin- rubs me the wrong way. campaign: Despite her voters by focusing on issues time around I think she’s

ton took the stage at the But, hey, you don’t have to decades on the public such as campaign finance very warm, very engaged,”

annual convention of the like her, right?” stage, Clinton struggles to and wage inequality. said Marilyn Lieto, 75, from

New Hampshire Democrat- Such tepid reactions have inspire the kind of personal “It just seems like the lon- Groton.

ic Party, with thousands led Clinton, once a com- passion that catapulted ger the campaign goes on Voters do say that Clinton’s

jumping to their feet to wel- manding favorite for the Barack Obama into the the more she tries to emu- handling of her use of a pri-

come the party’s presiden- nomination, into a fall White House. late the popular things that vate email account and

tial front-runner. campaign in which she “I like Hillary. I fell in love Bernie is going for,” said server have undermined

Outside the hall, a her message, as

far less joyous con- have months of

versation was tak- Republican at-

ing place. tacks casting her

“She kind of turns as untrustworthy.

me off,” said Mar- “People get stuck

sha Campaniello, on the past and

a 63-year-old real they don’t want to

estate appraiser give her a chance

from Concord. to move on,” said

“But I’d rather supporter Mar-

have a Democrat ta Morse in Des

in there as op- Moines, Iowa.

posed to a Repub- This month will of-

lican.” fer Clinton a series

At ice cream shops of high-profile op-

and book stores, portunities to con-

at summer fairs front those issues,

and fall festivals, first at the opening

Clinton is running Democratic presi-

into voters such dential debate on

as Campaniello. Oct. 13 and then

They’re Demo- nine days later in

crats, and some in- public testimony

dependents, too, before the House

weighing a desire committee investi-

to keep control of gating the deadly

the White House In this Sept. 6, 2015, file photo, a local resident looks through the front door of Uncle Nancy’s Coffee House as 2012 attack that

against the deep Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during a campaign stop in Newton, Iowa. killed four Ameri-
Associated Press cans at a U.S. dip-
ambivalence they

feel toward Clinton. will have competition, be with Obama,” said Sabrina Spencer Jackson, 25, from lomatic mission in Beng-

The Associated Press inter- it from Vermont Sen. Bernie Chen, 47, from Pelham. Sunapee. hazi, Libya.

viewed nearly 70 Demo- Sanders or the possible late Clinton appeared to ac- Aides stress the fundamen- In spite of their doubts,

cratic and independent entry of Vice President Joe knowledge the challenge tals of Clinton’s campaign Democrats believe Clinton

voters in the past two Biden. in a recent interview with — steady fundraising, de- remains the best candi-

weeks, all at places where Clinton is still the odds-on the comedian Lena Dun- tailed policy positions and date their party has when it

Clinton has campaigned in favorite to win the nomi- ham, saying of voting in a national organizing strat- comes to winning next No-

Iowa and New Hampshire, nation, although Sand- presidential elections, “if egy — are strong. vember.

the states which hold the ers has been drawing the you can’t get excited, be “Things don’t happen over- “She’s going to make a

first nominating contests in largest crowds and leads pragmatic.” night in the New Hampshire fine president,” said retiree

2016. in New Hampshire polls. The public’s opinion on primary, but we will have Susan Richards, 65, walking

Those voters expressed a No candidate in either the Clinton has steadily grown done all the important out of a Portsmouth book-

litany of concerns. Many Democratic or Republican more negative since she groundwork,” said Mike store, where Clinton greet-

said they simply feel they field has as sophisticated returned to partisan poli- Vlacich, Clinton’s New ed voters just two weeks

lack a connection with a campaign operation tics, after a period of high Hampshire state director. earlier. “I don’t think she’s

Clinton, often for reasons or depth of support from ratings while she was secre- For some, the rebranding ideal, but I think she’ll be

they cannot seem to ar- the party establishment as tary of state. has been convincing. Few good.”q