Former Obama adviser David Axelrod said Hillary Clinton was still the odds-on favorite in the 2016 race but that her campaign message is far from a rallying cry.
Axelrod said recent polls showing Clinton’s numbers falling, and some showing her dropping behind Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in some Democratic primary states, don’t change the fact that Clinton is still the most likely winner.
But, he added that her overall campaign message is hardly the type of thing to bring voters to their feet.
{mosads}“It’s still HRC’s to lose, despite new polls. But it’s hard to inspire w/grinding, tactical race. ‘Hillary: Live With It’ is no rallying cry!” he tweeted Sunday.
Axelrod worked on both of President Obama’s campaigns, including the 2008 race when he upset Clinton in the Democratic primary.
Clinton’s numbers have sagged as questions linger about her use of private email during her time as secretary of State, and polls have shown Sanders closing and even surpassing Clinton in some early states, including New Hampshire.
Meanwhile, Clinton is also facing challenges from the Republican field, as a new Washington Post/ABC News poll found her with just a 3-percentage point lead over GOP front-runner Donald Trump.
Clinton’s campaign has responded to the struggles by working to make her appear more spontaneous and authentic on the trail, and Clinton herself tried to put the email matter behind her by apologizing for using a private server earlier this month.
Axelrod went on to say on Twitter that Clinton has an “abundance” of expertise but added that making the case for her competency and readiness for the presidency has to be set within “convictions and values.”
“The trees have to describe a forest,” he added.