Allies Wonder If Hillary Can Be Accessible to Voters

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the presumed Democratic nominee for 2016, but Democrats and people close to her remain concerned about whether she is able to demonstrate the charisma and openness needed to pull off a successful campaign, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Serious modern presidential contenders have always been cautious of making mistakes on the campaign trail, often relying on teleprompters, aides, and security measures all to minimize the risk of spontaneous moments that can damage a campaign.

But Clinton's public image is so wedded to policy and politics even those closest to her are concerned that her personality has been imperceptible and her persona impenetrable.

"Unless you were a hugely important elected official or a major donor, there was no way to touch her," he said. "It’s this whole aura around her. That’s what doomed her in 2008 and they’re going to have to find a way in this campaign to do away with that," Alan Kessler, a longtime Democratic fundraiser told the Journal, speaking of a "perception that there was a wall around her."

Numerous interviews of former Clinton-era officials were gathered for a project led by the University of Virginia to try to give a better understanding of who she is as a person.

A number of transcripts appeared to give glimpses of her behavior away from the public spotlight with some portraying her as highly confrontational.

Nevertheless, a cache of almost 4,000 papers released in March by the Clinton Presidential Library appear to reflect an ongoing challenge to shape her public image, one that will likely be tested again should she make a bid in 2016.

"Mrs. Clinton likely will run one last campaign. Will voters see a more accessible face than she has typically been willing to show?" the Journal concluded.

Meanwhile, Clinton has had a number of public stumbles in her quest to talk more openly about her life. In June, she made several comments about her lack of wealth that strategists said left her vulnerable to appearing out of touch with the American electorate.

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