Journalists from the CBS affiliate in Minneapolis expressed their disappointment with Hillary Clinton on Friday for skipping the Minnesota State Fair, where she could have mingled with everyday Americans.
"No Hillary, unfortunately—she didn't show up at the state fair," local radio host Jordana Green said.
Clinton went to a nearby gathering of the Democratic National Committee instead, where she made news by asserting that the Republican Party wants to ship illegal immigrants out of the country in "boxcars"—a likely reference to the Nazi's transportation of Jews to concentration camps during the Holocaust.
Clinton campaign spokesman Robbie Mook attended the state fair in her place.
"We read him [Mook] the riot act," Green said. "We said, if she wants to connect with Minnesota, you gotta show up at the fair."
"But it didn't work, did it?" a reporter asked.
"It did not work, unfortunately," Green said.
Green said that she had discussed aspects of Hillary's campaign with Mook, including Clinton's widening email scandal.
Clinton attended the Iowa State Fair earlier in August, but for the most part has stuck to small, stage-managed campaign events. She has been criticized for appearing robotic and impersonal.
According to a local Minnesota newspaper, while Hillary is dominating the "money race," state progressives have yet to be convinced. Dan McGrath, the leader of the progressive activist group TakeAction Minnesota, said, "The Democrats are letting the opportunity slip through their fingers."
Clinton has not asked McGrath for support, even though 70 percent of Minnesota's total donations to presidential candidates went to Clinton - a whopping $559,700. In comparison, Bernie Sanders received $59,000.
"As Donald Trump is offending most of America every day, the Democrats are not really providing a very compelling inclusive alternative vision. … They are not breaking through, and that’s both a source of concern and a source of frustration," McGrath said.