Clinton campaign to refocus its message as Election Day nears

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

last updated 21 September 2016

After months spent attempting to discredit Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton's campaign is reportedly now trying to re-establish its own candidate as the center of its message. As Election Day approaches, "voters aren't going to be able to rattle off her bullet points," Democratic strategist Anita Dunn told The Washington Post. "We're at a point in the campaign where voters want to hear what candidates are going to do — not just what's wrong with your opponent, but why you."

While Clinton has maintained a slight lead in the polls, over half the country still views her unfavorably, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.

President Obama's former chief strategist David Axelrod summed up the task ahead for Team Clinton: "Who is she? Why is she running for president? Why should people have trust in her? Why should they feel invested in her candidacy?"

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.