Former mayor of Philadelphia Michael Nutter is backing Hillary Clinton’s bid for the presidency, but he conceded Monday that the Democratic frontrunner will have an authenticity problem with voters during the general election.
Nutter told David Axelrod during The Axe Files podcast that Clinton’s longtime presence in the public eye has made her a target of extensive scrutiny throughout the years, particularly from Republicans.
"So I think the natural instinct is to almost go within yourself, lessen the surface area for attack, and be very guarded," he said. "That is a challenge for any elected official, but certainly one for higher office. I would say, at a minimum at the mayoral level and up, people want to know you."
Unlike Donald Trump’s unfiltered, sporadic campaign style that has become emblematic of the business mogul’s presidential bid, Clinton has remained guarded.
Nutter said the former secretary of state will have to strike a balance to appear less rehearsed without pivoting too far toward Trump’s blunt tone.
"If you try to change up too much, then you have a different form of an authenticity problem. Because what are you doing? We see that you're trying. You can't be someone that you're not," he said. "Could she lighten up a little bit? Yes."
Clinton’s image among Democratic voters has hit record-low levels throughout the primary election. Last month, Clinton’s favorability among those in her party fell to 36 percent—down from 63 percent in November, according to a Gallup poll.
Clinton’s reputation as dishonest and untrustworthy has also hounded her campaign.
Only 37 percent of Americans interviewed in a Washington Post-ABC News poll in March said they believed Clinton to be honest and trustworthy. 57 percent meanwhile responded that she was neither.
Regardless, Nutter predicted that Clinton would ultimately clinch victory come November given Trump’s "reality show" mindset.