Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) on Monday cited Clinton's "long history of controversy" as a possible reason for voters' Clinton fatigue, as polls show she is doing worse than Joe Biden in head-to-head match-ups against Republican rivals.
"Hillary has a long history of controversy, and I think that turns some people off," Durbin said.
Durbin said he believes many of the controversies have been created by Clinton's opponents and that he believes she is still the Democrats' best shot at keeping the White House. Clinton maintains a lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Vice President Joe Biden in a new national poll released Monday.
Durbin said Clinton's email scandal is causing uncertainty among Democrats because they are unsure what the FBI investigation into her private server will reveal.
" don't know how that investigation will end," Durbin said. "There's uncertainty on our side because all our eggs are in one basket in terms of Hillary Clinton's candidacy."
Durbin's words for Clinton's rivals were much warmer. He referred to Biden as the man with "the best heart in politics" and called Sanders "an appealing fellow."
"Many Democrats are saying there's a long trek, a lot of things going on when investigations by this committee in the house and that committee in the house," Durbin said. "I think there is this angst, this anxiety over the race."
Clinton has reportedly canceled her campaign events this week to prepare for her testimony to the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Oct. 22.