Hillary Clinton today acknowledged that many voters just don’t trust her, admitting, during a rare moment of self-reflection: “I have work to do on this front."
"A lot of people tell pollsters they don’t trust me,” the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said during her keynote remarks at a women’s luncheon in Chicago. "Now I don’t like hearing that. And I’ve thought a lot about what’s behind it. And, you know, you hear 25 years worth of wild accusations anyone would start to wonder. And it certainly is true, I’ve made mistakes. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t. So I understand people having questions."
Addressing the skeptical voters directly, Clinton explained that while Donald Trump’s attacks are “nonsense," that “you can’t just talk someone into trusting you, you’ve got to earn it."
“So, yes, I could say that the reason I sometimes sound careful with my words is not that I’m hiding something, it’s just that I’m careful with my words,” she said. "I believe what you say actually matters. I think that’s true in life and it’s especially true if you’re president. So I do think before I speak.”
The issue of Clinton’s trustworthiness is a top concern among Democrats. An ABC News/Washington Post poll from earlier this year showed 57 percent of voters do believe Clinton is trustworthy.
Donald Trump has, of course, pounced on his opponent, calling her “Crooked Hillary” and recently launched a website, “LyingCrookedHillary.com.”