Politico chief political columnist Roger Simon, known for his left leanings, on Thursday reprimanded Hillary Clinton’s apology for her use of a private email server as too late and stated the campaign wasted millions of dollars in ads that only lowered her poll numbers.
"Trying to dig herself out of a hole," Simon said, Clinton spent $2 million in advertising in the first two voting states as a direct response to her softening poll numbers. The objective of the buy was to highlight Clinton as a fighter while making her more relatable in a couple of "feel-good" biographical ads.
"The commercials haven't worked, Simon said. "She spent a couple million dollars on commercials in New Hampshire and Iowa. They drove her poll numbers down."
A new poll released by Quinnipiac University on Thursday found Clinton’s once formidable lead in Iowa is no longer. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) now leads the former secretary of state 41 percent to 40 percent. Similarly, Clinton once held on to a massive advantage in New Hampshire but has seen her support fall behind Sanders in the Granite state in the last two months. Since Clinton left the State Department early in 2013, the number of Americans with an unfavorable view of Clinton has doubled, while her favorability rating has tumbled 20 points.
"Some people think that the more you see of her, the less you like her," Simon said. "That's a real problem when you're campaigning for president."
Simon said he does not believe the campaign has poor quality ads, however. He argues Clinton’s negative image due to the email scandal is only exacerbated by her inability to relate to average Americans.
"She just has not been connecting with people on the stump, in the field, with her speeches," Simon said.