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Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, pictured here on Tuesday, March 3, has become one of the most powerful people in Washington. Here's a look at her life and career through the years.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Before she married Bill Clinton, she was Hillary Rodham. Here, Rodham talks about student protests in 1969, which she supported in her commencement speech at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Rodham, center, a lawyer for the Rodino Committee, and John Doar, left, chief counsel for the committee, bring impeachment charges against President Richard Nixon in the Judiciary Committee hearing room at the U.S. Capitol in 1974.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton helps first lady Rosalynn Carter on a campaign swing through Arkansas in June 1979. Also seen in the photo is Hillary Clinton, center background.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Bill Clinton embraces his wife shortly after a stage light fell near her on January 26, 1992. They talk to Don Hewitt, producer of the CBS show "60 Minutes."

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

With Hillary, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton waves to the crowd at his victory party after winning the Illinois primary on March 17, 1992.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Al Gore, Tipper Gore, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton wave to supporters at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York, after they gave speeches on family values on August 23, 1992.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton gestures at a campaign rally November 3, 1992, in Denver. After taking office, President Clinton chose his wife to head a special commission on health care reform, the most significant public policy initiative of his first year in office.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Bill and Hillary Clinton have a laugh together on Capitol Hill in 1993.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton pours herself a cup of tea in 1993 while testifying to the Senate Education and Labor Committee about health care reform.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks at George Washington University on September 10, 1993, in Washington during her husband's first term.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton waves to the media on January 26, 1996, as she arrives at federal court in Washington for an appearance before a grand jury. The first lady was subpoenaed to testify as a witness in the investigation of the Whitewater land deal in Arkansas.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary Clinton looks on as President Clinton discusses the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 26, 1998.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary and Bill Clinton arrive at Foundry United Methodist Church on August 16, 1998, in Washington. He became the first sitting president to testify before a grand jury when he testified via satellite about the Lewinsky matter.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton shakes hands during a St. Patrick's Day parade in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens, New York, on March 5, 2000.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton waves to the crowd as she arrives on the stage at the Democratic National Convention on August 14, 2000, in Los Angeles.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton campaigns for a Senate seat October 25, 2000, at Grand Central Station in New York.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary Clinton is sworn in as a senator of New York in a re-enactment ceremony with, from left, President Clinton, nephew Tyler, daughter Chelsea, brother Hugh Rodham, mother Dorothy Rodham and Vice President Al Gore on January 3, 2001, in Washington.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Andrew Cuomo, Eliot Spitzer and Clinton celebrate with a crowd of Democratic supporters after their wins in various races November 7, 2006, in New York.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks during a post-primary rally on January 8, 2007, at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

The Clintons pay a visit to the 92nd annual Hopkinton State Fair in Contoocook, New Hampshire, on September 2, 2007.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks at a campaign rally September 2, 2007, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She was running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton addresses a question during a debate with other Democratic presidential candidate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, on September 26, 2007. Also pictured are U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, left, and former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Felipe Bravo, left, and Christian Caraballo are covered with Hillary Clinton stickers in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, on January 8, 2008.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton campaigns in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with her daughter, Chelsea, on January 1, 2008, two days ahead of the January 3 state caucus.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton waves as she speaks to supporters at the National Building Museum on June 7, 2008, in Washington. After pulling out of the presidential race, Clinton thanked her supporters and urged them to back Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Obama and Clinton talk on the plane on their way to a Unity Rally in Unity, New Hampshire, on June 27, 2008.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Obama watches Clinton address the Democratic National Convention on August 26, 2008. The two endured a long, heated contest for the 2008 nomination.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Sen. Charles Schumer, left, looks toward Secretary of State designate Clinton as Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Sen. John Kerry, center, looks on during nomination hearings January 13, 2009, on Capitol Hill.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton testifies during her confirmation hearing for secretary of state on January 13, 2009, in Washington.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton, as secretary of state, dances with a local choir while visiting the Victoria Mxenge Housing Project in Philippi, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, on August 8, 2009.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton looks through binoculars toward North Korea during a visit to an observation post July 21, 2010, at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton walks up the steps to her aircraft as she leaves a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on July 23, 2010, in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary and Bill Clinton pose on the day of their daughter's wedding to Marc Mezvinsky on July 31, 2010, in Rhinebeck, New York.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

U.S. President Barack Obama and Clinton observe a moment of silence before a NATO meeting November 19, 2010, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton listens as Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu makes a brief statement November 29, 2010, before a bilateral meeting at the State Department in Washington.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton shakes hands with a child during an unannounced walk through Tahrir Square in Cairo on March 16, 2011.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Clinton and members of Obama's national security team receive an update on the Osama bin Laden mission May 1, 2011, in the Situation Room of the White House.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton checks her personal digital assistant prior to departing Malta on October 18, 2011.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton dances while in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 15, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton enjoys a beer at Cafe Havana in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 15, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton appears with little makeup during an event in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on May 6, 2012. She tells CNN, "I feel so relieved to be at the stage I'm at in my life right now ... Because you know if I want to wear my glasses, I'm wearing my glasses. If I want to wear my hair back I'm pulling my hair back. You know at some point it's just not something that deserves a lot of time and attention."

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks as Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai listens during a news conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on July 7, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton arrives at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on July 15, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton looks on as Obama makes a statement in response to the attack at the U.S. Consulate in Libya on September 12, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton applauds Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a ceremony where Suu Kyi was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal on September 19, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Bill Clinton kisses his wife after introducing her at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting on September 24, 2012, in New York City.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton shakes hands with Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, while attending a reception with Prince William, second from right, in New York in December.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Democratic presidential candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gestures before speaking to supporters Saturday, June 13 on Roosevelt Island in New York, in a speech promoted as her formal presidential campaign debut.

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Hillary Clinton: Is her support among women weakening? - CNN.com

Former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton, having embraced the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by President Obama, is now helping to lead the sales effort for it both with her own party and the electorate at large.

The 2016 Democratic presidential front-runners endorsement stands against nearly unanimous Republican opposition, led by denunciations from the large and growing field of GOP candidates. The clash offers further evidence that foreign policy could loom as a crucial issue in the election.

Clintons endorsement also underscores the degree to which her political fortunes have been joined with Obamas legacy. That is an ironic turn, given how the two tangled over Iran during the 2008 race for the Democratic nomination, with Clinton dismissing Obamas talk of overtures to Iran as irresponsible and, frankly, naive.

But after serving as Obamas chief diplomat during his first term, Clinton took credit Tuesday for having been part of building the coalition that brought us to the point of this agreement. In a series of private meetings and a lunch with Democrats on Capitol Hill, Clinton spoke supportively of the deal.

Based on what I know now, and I will be being briefed as soon as I finish addressing you, this is an important step in putting the lid on Irans nuclear program, Clinton told reporters.

[Historic agreement reached with Iran]

Where she had once been skeptical of whether the nuclear negotiations had any chance of success, Clinton said the key questions now are the degree to which the agreed-upon terms are enforced and whether Iran continues its bad behavior in other areas, including sponsoring terrorism, undermining other governments in the Middle East, human rights violations and threatening Israel.

The Republican candidates, on the other hand, offered near-apocalyptic assessments of the agreement, which will go forward unless Congress can muster two-thirds veto-proof majorities to oppose it in both houses.

Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) called the deal a fundamental betrayal of the security of the United States and of our closest allies. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) told MSNBC that it ensures that the Arabs will go nuclear and is a death-over-time sentence to Israel if they dont push back. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush said it paves Irans path to a bomb.

But where opposition to a deal has been a surefire applause line as the GOP candidates have stumped before conservative audiences in early primary states, influential Republican leaders in Congress took a somewhat more measured tone.

I want to read the agreement in detail and fully understand it, but I begin from a place of deep skepticism that the deal actually meets the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (Tenn.) said in a statement.

[How the U.S. closed the deal]

Notably silent, at least at first, was Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), a presidential contender from the non-interventionist libertarian wing of the GOP.

The small-government group doesnt want him to be a knee-jerk militarist. I dont think he wants to be, either, said Drew Ivers, who was Iowa chairman for the 2012 presidential campaign of Pauls father, former congressman Ron Paul (R-Tex.). But its a can of worms for him, whether to show thoughtful statesmanship versus dried-out partisanship.

Reservations on Capitol Hill were not confined to Republicans.

Im concerned that the deal ultimately legitimizes Iran as a threshold-nuclear state, said Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), a Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. Im concerned the red lines we drew have turned into green lights; that Iran will be required only to limit rather than eliminate its nuclear program.

If Clinton were elected, she would have to implement the deal, which is one reason her assessment carries such weight with her fellow Democrats.

She is one of the two most important and most influential voices of this debate, the other being President Obama, Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), a longtime Clinton supporter, said after the former secretary of states Tuesday morning presentation to the House Democratic caucus. Israel said he remains skeptical of the Iran deal.

Public polls show that majorities or pluralities of Americans support the broad outlines of a deal with Iran that would lift economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on or inspections of its nuclear program. But surveys also indicate that most do not trust Iran to abide by the terms of an agreement.

Duke University professor Peter D. Feaver, who served on the National Security Council staff in the administrations of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, said that as debate over the deal goes forward, the political advantage is likely to rest on whichever side frames the choice.

Obama will prevail if Americans consider the Iran deal an alternative to further military conflict in the region, Feaver said. But Republicans could win the argument if they are convinced that tougher negotiations could have produced a better deal, he added.

Its a jump ball, and its not untethered to facts on the ground, Feaver said, adding that Irans behavior going forward also will be a factor.

Not to be upstaged by Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a fellow presidential candidate, strolled out of a Democratic lunch with her and told reporters he welcomed Clinton back to the United States Senate. He went on to sketch out the areas where he and Clinton disagree, including on trade policy, climate policy, financial regulation and her past support for the Iraq war.

Sanders who has been drawing large crowds of progressives on the campaign trail said he said hello to Clinton in the luncheon but did not question her. Ive known the secretary for 25 years, he said. I like her, I respect her, and I hope that we can run a campaign where we can express the differences of opinion that we have and do it in a way that is straightforward.

Robert Costa, Jose A. DelReal, Mike DeBonis and Peyton M. Craighill contributed to this report.

Karen Tumulty is a national political correspondent for The Washington Post, where she received the 2013 Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting.

Paul Kane covers Congress and politics for the Washington Post.

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By embracing Iran deal, Hillary Clinton puts herself in a ...

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, pictured here on Tuesday, March 3, has become one of the most powerful people in Washington. Here's a look at her life and career through the years.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Before she married Bill Clinton, she was Hillary Rodham. Here, Rodham talks about student protests in 1969, which she supported in her commencement speech at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Rodham, center, a lawyer for the Rodino Committee, and John Doar, left, chief counsel for the committee, bring impeachment charges against President Richard Nixon in the Judiciary Committee hearing room at the U.S. Capitol in 1974.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton helps first lady Rosalynn Carter on a campaign swing through Arkansas in June 1979. Also seen in the photo is Hillary Clinton, center background.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Bill Clinton embraces his wife shortly after a stage light fell near her on January 26, 1992. They talk to Don Hewitt, producer of the CBS show "60 Minutes."

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

With Hillary, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton waves to the crowd at his victory party after winning the Illinois primary on March 17, 1992.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Al Gore, Tipper Gore, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton wave to supporters at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York, after they gave speeches on family values on August 23, 1992.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton gestures at a campaign rally November 3, 1992, in Denver. After taking office, President Clinton chose his wife to head a special commission on health care reform, the most significant public policy initiative of his first year in office.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Bill and Hillary Clinton have a laugh together on Capitol Hill in 1993.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton pours herself a cup of tea in 1993 while testifying to the Senate Education and Labor Committee about health care reform.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks at George Washington University on September 10, 1993, in Washington during her husband's first term.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton waves to the media on January 26, 1996, as she arrives at federal court in Washington for an appearance before a grand jury. The first lady was subpoenaed to testify as a witness in the investigation of the Whitewater land deal in Arkansas.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary Clinton looks on as President Clinton discusses the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 26, 1998.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary and Bill Clinton arrive at Foundry United Methodist Church on August 16, 1998, in Washington. He became the first sitting president to testify before a grand jury when he testified via satellite about the Lewinsky matter.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton shakes hands during a St. Patrick's Day parade in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens, New York, on March 5, 2000.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton waves to the crowd as she arrives on the stage at the Democratic National Convention on August 14, 2000, in Los Angeles.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton campaigns for a Senate seat October 25, 2000, at Grand Central Station in New York.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary Clinton is sworn in as a senator of New York in a re-enactment ceremony with, from left, President Clinton, nephew Tyler, daughter Chelsea, brother Hugh Rodham, mother Dorothy Rodham and Vice President Al Gore on January 3, 2001, in Washington.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Andrew Cuomo, Eliot Spitzer and Clinton celebrate with a crowd of Democratic supporters after their wins in various races November 7, 2006, in New York.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks during a post-primary rally on January 8, 2007, at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

The Clintons pay a visit to the 92nd annual Hopkinton State Fair in Contoocook, New Hampshire, on September 2, 2007.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks at a campaign rally September 2, 2007, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She was running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton addresses a question during a debate with other Democratic presidential candidate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, on September 26, 2007. Also pictured are U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, left, and former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Felipe Bravo, left, and Christian Caraballo are covered with Hillary Clinton stickers in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, on January 8, 2008.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton campaigns in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with her daughter, Chelsea, on January 1, 2008, two days ahead of the January 3 state caucus.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton waves as she speaks to supporters at the National Building Museum on June 7, 2008, in Washington. After pulling out of the presidential race, Clinton thanked her supporters and urged them to back Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Obama and Clinton talk on the plane on their way to a Unity Rally in Unity, New Hampshire, on June 27, 2008.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Obama watches Clinton address the Democratic National Convention on August 26, 2008. The two endured a long, heated contest for the 2008 nomination.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Sen. Charles Schumer, left, looks toward Secretary of State designate Clinton as Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Sen. John Kerry, center, looks on during nomination hearings January 13, 2009, on Capitol Hill.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton testifies during her confirmation hearing for secretary of state on January 13, 2009, in Washington.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton, as secretary of state, dances with a local choir while visiting the Victoria Mxenge Housing Project in Philippi, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, on August 8, 2009.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton looks through binoculars toward North Korea during a visit to an observation post July 21, 2010, at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton walks up the steps to her aircraft as she leaves a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on July 23, 2010, in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary and Bill Clinton pose on the day of their daughter's wedding to Marc Mezvinsky on July 31, 2010, in Rhinebeck, New York.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

U.S. President Barack Obama and Clinton observe a moment of silence before a NATO meeting November 19, 2010, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton listens as Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu makes a brief statement November 29, 2010, before a bilateral meeting at the State Department in Washington.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton shakes hands with a child during an unannounced walk through Tahrir Square in Cairo on March 16, 2011.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Clinton and members of Obama's national security team receive an update on the Osama bin Laden mission May 1, 2011, in the Situation Room of the White House.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton checks her personal digital assistant prior to departing Malta on October 18, 2011.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton dances while in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 15, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton enjoys a beer at Cafe Havana in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 15, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton appears with little makeup during an event in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on May 6, 2012. She tells CNN, "I feel so relieved to be at the stage I'm at in my life right now ... Because you know if I want to wear my glasses, I'm wearing my glasses. If I want to wear my hair back I'm pulling my hair back. You know at some point it's just not something that deserves a lot of time and attention."

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks as Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai listens during a news conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on July 7, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton arrives at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on July 15, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton looks on as Obama makes a statement in response to the attack at the U.S. Consulate in Libya on September 12, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton applauds Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a ceremony where Suu Kyi was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal on September 19, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Bill Clinton kisses his wife after introducing her at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting on September 24, 2012, in New York City.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton shakes hands with Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, while attending a reception with Prince William, second from right, in New York in December.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Democratic presidential candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gestures before speaking to supporters Saturday, June 13 on Roosevelt Island in New York, in a speech promoted as her formal presidential campaign debut.

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Hillary Clinton revived U.S.'s global authority (opinion ...

DES MOINES, Iowa After impressing Iowa Democratic activists with a stern tongue-lashing of Republicans at Friday nights famous Wing Ding fundraiser, Hillary Clinton took a step out of her comfort zone to try to win the hearts of the Hawkeye States vital voters.

She walked out into the crowd of 2,000 politically savvy Iowans and seated herself a few rows back from the stage, listening to other candidates give stump speeches like she was an ordinary attendee. And when the fundraiser finished, and people swarmed to meet her, she took a few minutes to mingle, even signing a few autographs for awestruck fans.

Story Continued Below

But then she disappeared behind a makeshift black curtain walling off a corner of the ballroom. Fans pushed up against the veil, trying to get a peak of the 2016 Democratic front-runner. But her security detail held them back, allowing only a handful to enter and see the hidden candidate before she left, leaving a swarm of disappointed voters who didnt get a handshake.

During a two-day sweep of this key early-voting state, Clinton made good on a promise to be more down-to-earth and increase her face-to-face interaction with Average Joes. At the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, she mingled with strangers, took more than 40 pictures with fans and embraced the crowds she so often avoids. At her side was former Sen. Tom Harkin, whose endorsement last week came after a rough run of headlines about her private email account.

Its part of an intentional Clinton campaign effort to win support in a state that rejected her last time she ran for the White House in part because they felt she put on airs, snubbing Iowans who are used to and expect up-close-and-personal meetings with presidential wannabes.

The question is whether Hillary Clintons 2016 vintage is different and better enough to overcome the growing questions about her candidacy.

While many Iowa Democrats praised her for a notable change in strategy, interviews with dozens of others showed she still has some work to do if she wants to win the Iowa Democratic caucuses. Many liberals are still skeptical that shes actually one of them. Others say she needs to do more rallies or open up invite-only, small-group events to wider audiences who yearn to know Hillary, the person. And theres real interest among Democrats about a possible late entry into the race: Vice President Joe Biden.

Case in point: Jackie Crawford, whose brother Jerry is a major Iowan fixer for the Clintons. She chatted with Clinton at the Iowa State Fair about horse racing a passion her brother shares with his buddy Bill Clinton but after the masses following Clinton moved on, she said theres no doubt Clinton could do more to win.

I think itd be good to get her out more in larger groups more question-and-answer, she said, adding that shell back Clinton unless Joe should run.

Its a sign that Clinton still has some work to do. Although she leads her most competitive Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders by at least 20 percentage points, the Vermont senator, a darling of the left, is gaining ground and wooing potential supporters.

And if Biden jumps into the race, her odds here look even worse. Numerous Iowans told POLITICO they adore his devil-may-care personality and would welcome him throwing his hat into the ring some because of the email controversy plaguing Clinton in Washington, D.C.

Im all in on Biden, said J.R. Ackley, the former two-time mayor and city councilman of a 300-population northern Iowa town called Marble Rock. I think Hillarys going to be bogged down by a lot of this Benghazi stuff.

A nervous Clinton campaign is leaving nothing to chance. Her third-place finish here in 2008 was a huge blow to the woman who was, then as now, the assumed nominee. She went on to battle Barack Obama well into the spring, but in some ways never recovered from losing Iowa. Obamas stance against the Iraq war was surely a major factor behind Clintons defeat, but her campaign has clearly accepted the conventional wisdom in Iowa that her imperial, coronate-me-now style of 2008 played a large role.

Theyve beefed up their Iowa-based staff, begun a massive volunteer organizing effort and put together a number of small group events and roundtables. Shes held town halls in multiple cities, including Iowa City, Ames and Dubuque as recently as last week. And moves like Clintons carefully spontaneous Scooby Doo van ride in April went over vastly better than anything she did here in 2008.

So far, its working at least with some Iowans.

Richard Paxson, who sits on the Cerro Gordo County Democratic committee, said shes changed.

I was at a house meeting that Hillary had in Mason City, and there were about 100 people there, and she took the time to meet and visit with every single person in the room, said Paxson, who voted for Obama in 2008. I found that very impressive.

After her Wing Ding speech Friday night, Steve Jules, an event organizer, approached this reporter waving a picture of Hillary he had taken months ago that she had just signed for him minutes ago. He looked like a giddy child who had just been handed a cookie, grinning from ear to ear: Fantastic!

John Colombo, another event organizer, said that moments like these show the campaign learned from the mistakes of 2007.

This time around its a completely different candidate, he said in an interview just before the chicken wing fundraiser Friday, donned in a red, white and blue Uncle Sam suit for the occasion. Were Iowans. We like to meet people to shake their hand and actually know who they are. I dont think that she really understood that about us then, but this year theyre defiantly running a better campaign a lot more personal.

Supporters say shes listening, too. Colombo, for example, said he had asked her several months ago at a private event to talk about trade programs in education then saw her bring up that very issue in a speech two weeks later.

Clinton often notes such efforts to be responsive, as she did during a gaggle with reporters at the Iowa State Fair Saturday, saying she recently started looking at mental health policy after someone in Iowa had asked her to do so: I want to have this continuing conversation about whats on the minds of Iowans and Americans and I will fight as hard as I can to earn every vote.

During the fair, reporters witnessed her stepping out, too. While Clinton is notorious for avoiding big crowds, she walked around the fairgrounds talking to anyone who approached her or asked to snap a picture. An Iowa mother with a daughter on her deathbed pleaded with her to make medical marijuana legal nationally Clinton took her contact info down. A young boy introduced her to his show cow. All of that seemed to go over well.

But theres still a left-leaning crowd here in Iowa whos not so sure about her.

I like her, but I dont like her, said Leslie Johnson, a few feet away from the fairs famous soapbox, which Clinton notably avoided Saturday. I dont trust her.

A lot of their distrust has to do with policy. Multiple people in the crowd of several hundred that came out to hear Clintons competitor Bernie Sanders speak noted disapprovingly that she hadnt weighed in on the trade pacts that recently split President Obama from the rest of his party. Or the creation of the Keystone pipeline that liberals here believe will crush the environment. They dont like that shes friendly with Wall Street, either.

The progressive wing doesnt feel like she stands up enough, said Nathan Riggle of Des Moines, a 20-something who worked for the Obama campaign in 2008 and is currently undecided. If he had to bet, hed put his money on Sanders winning Iowa. Shes just more conservative than wed like her to be.

But its more than just the issues. Its access too.

She didnt show up here for the Des Moines Register soapbox, said Iowan Charlie Aherm, who wore a Sanders shirt and stood outside of a line-dancing tent at the fair. He complained that Clinton was too professional and too closed off. I dont know where she is. I heard that she was here today but I didnt see her.

Larry Dunn, an Iowa Democrat whos leaning toward Sanders, was bitter about not being invited to private events Clinton has held here in Iowa.

When she was here two months, she had a private party, he complained.

The public wasnt invited, his wife Deb added aghast. Bernies been making himself available anybody could come.

The Clinton campaign has held number of free events open to the public, though some of Iowas left here didn seem to know about them.

Tory Fellner, who is undecided on a candidate, said she wants to back Hillary but is not impressed with her accessibility. While shes already seen Sanders at three public events, shes yet to meet Clinton in person.

Bernie is out there stumping, and I understand that shes a little more reserved, but I think she needs to put herself out there, said Fellner, who had a plate of pulled pork on her lap at the Wing Ding event Friday. I understand shes all over the country, and you can only be in one place at a time, but in Iowa we have an expectation that we get to meet these people [who run] and Im waiting for Hillary. she said.

Standing next to a horde of chanting Martin OMalley supporters in Clear Lake on Friday afternoon, Daryl Kothenbeutel predicted that Sanders will be the Obama of 2008, soon overtaking Clinton in the polls and driving on to win the state for the left.

Hes already ahead in New Hampshire, he noted. Clinton has too much baggage.

John Stone, the Cerro Gordo County Democratic Chairman, said its certainly possible. Though he backed Clinton over Obama last time around, he said hes holding his cards closely.

Ive seen people picked as the winner in the caucus beforehand, but weve got about six months to go and a lot can happen, he said.

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Hillary Clinton 2016: Is her Iowa reset enough? - POLITICO

DES MOINES The road to the White House leads from the life-size cow carved from 600pounds of butter here at the Iowa State Fair to the stand selling $7 grilled pork chops on a stick.

Theres where Hillary Rodham Clinton was strolling on Saturday, shaking hands and posing for selfies with sweaty supporters under an unforgiving sun, when the whirring sound of helicopter blades approached, then grew louder, then louder still.

Look up in the sky! Greta Tarbell, 63, cried out. Theres Trump! Hes got his own helicopter. Have at it, baby!

The black chopper with bold white letters spelling T-R-U-M-P circled the fairgrounds once. Then twice. Then a third time.

The Donald had arrived. And with that, the forces that are making the 2016 presidential contest so extraordinary collided theatrically at the legendary Iowa State Fair.

Arriving by helicopter on Saturday, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump was cheered on by hundreds of supporters as he toured around the Iowa State Fair and chaos ensued. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

Donald Trump, the billionaire reality television star whose shamelessness and braggadocio is disrupting the Republican primary, was out of his element here but undoubtedly in command.

He stepped out of his helicopter like a Palm Beach mogul, sporting a navy blazer and breezy cream slacks, a red cap with his Make America Great Again slogan, French cuffs and buffed white dress shoes, which would be challenged moments later when the Trump entourage walked through a pile of horse dung.

A political Willy Wonka, Trump offered rides in his helicopter, which landed at a nearby baseball field, to randomly selected handfuls of Iowa children. Come here, he said to the kids. Does anyone want to take a ride? Its nice, right? ... Who wants to go first?

You know we dont do subtle, Trumps spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, acknowledged.

This, apparently, is how America chooses its presidents.

At the fairgrounds, there was no collision between the Democratic and Republican front-runners. Still, the chaos and spectacle Clinton and Trump each created during their visits Saturday crystallized the dynamics of the race.

First was Clinton. A dynasty candidate criticized for being aloof, she tried to ingratiate herself with everyday Iowans. She had as her guide Tom Harkin, the states legendary populist senator who retired earlier this year and gave Clinton his endorsement on Friday. Harkin, wearing his signature straw hat, showed her the way.

Speaking at the Iowa State Fair, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says she is "very committed to supporting" regional efforts taking on the Islamic State. (Reuters)

The former secretary of state stood at the fence of a dirty paddock to meet a shorthorn cow named Maggie. (She paid no attention to the shiny black Rolls-Royce parked a few yards away.) She expressed amazement at a Monopoly-themed butter statue. She bit into a greasy pork chop and sipped from a jumbo cup of fresh-squeezed lemonade.

I love your blue outfit! Clinton gushed to one stranger.

This is like being back at the New York State Fair, surrounded by friends, she told another.

Walking through the Agriculture Building past showcases of the thickest carrots, roundest beets and biggest heads of iceberg lettuce Clinton made her way to the famed butter cow. She smiled and waved, waved and smiled.

Im so excited, said Kate Reed, 48, an accountant. This was my whole goal today, to get to see her. But oh, my God. This is insane.

From start to finish, Clinton was surrounded by a swarm of Secret Service agents, campaign staffers and reporters shouting questions such as, What about your e-mail servers? and Have you had any conversations with Biden? (The vice president has been weighing whether to challenge her in the Democratic primary.)

The everyday Iowans Clinton had come here to meet and win over risked physical danger getting close to her. The candidate was engulfed by a mob of media and photo-snapping supporters, everyone hot and sticky, tripping over each other.

Is that her behind the bald guy? one woman asked. Ive seen blond hair pop up a couple of times.

Louis Picone, 44, got close enough. Then he taunted everyone else. I shook Hillarys hand, he called out. Only $2 to shake my hand!

And that was before Trump showed up.

An even larger horde surrounded the celebrity businessman as he inched down the main concourse of the fair, past picnic areas and stands hawking such heart-healthy delicacies as deep-fried nacho balls, bacon-wrapped smokies on a stick and deep-fried Twinkies.

I have a crowd 10 times what Hillary had, Trump boasted, though his estimate was definitely inflated. Earlier, reminding reporters he topped the latest polls here, Trump declared: I love Iowa, great place. Ive really developed a relationship with it.

Hey, Donald, youre my favorite man! shouted a boy, who stood on top of a golf cart to see the candidate in the red cap walk by.

The scene was mayhem. Trumps private security agents tried to enforce a buffer around him. When a camera crew dropped a boom microphone overhead, an agent said, Gotta keep the mics away from his head.

Fans reached out their arms toward Trump. They stood on their tiptoes to snap pictures of the man they recognized from television. They screamed his name and cheered him on. Give me a selfie! yelled one fan. Save our country! screamed another.

After one woman shook Trumps hand, her friend gleefully asked, Was his hand soft? She said it was.

Al Linquist, 63, called his wife from the middle of the scrum: I just shook hands with Trump. Honest to God. Scouts oath. I got my hand in there and told him, Keep it up!

But not everyone gawking at Trump was so encouraging of his campaign.

One woman stood on a park bench and shouted, Donald, we love you! Woooo! But when a reporter asked if she really loved him, she shook her head sheepishly and said, No, do you?

Faith Lain, 37, was absolutely giddy after meeting Trump, but he doesnt have her vote.

Hes a spectacle and hes ridiculous, she said. Thats why I wanted to shake his hand. ... The state fair is about doing ridiculous things. And theres nothing more ridiculous than Donald Trump being president.

When Trump got to the pork chop stand, where Clinton had been only an hour earlier, an aide handed him a box of chops on sticks. He picked up one, took a big bite out of it and held it up for the cameras. This is the real deal, right? Trump said. After one bite, however, he put the chop back in the box. He didnt eat anything else.

Trump, who earlier in the day had singled out former Florida governor Jeb Bush for criticism, called out to the crowd that had gathered: Who do you support? Trump or Bush?

Trump! the crowd yelled back. The candidate mugged for the cameras and held up two fingers in a victory sign.

Both Trump and Clinton opted out of appearing at the Des Moines Register Soapbox, a state fair rite of passage for presidential aspirants, who each get 20 minutes to address fairgoers and often get mercilessly heckled. Trump said he skipped the soapbox because of his feud with the Register. The newspaper, he said Saturday, was not relevant.

Some of Clintons supporters criticized her decision to avoid taking questions from fairgoers at the soapbox, although she did answer a few questions from reporters at a morning news conference.

She should go to the soapbox, absolutely, said Nancy Thise, 47, a Clinton supporter. She should get it over with. She should face her fears and her critics. People love her for the right reasons and her campaign people are not doing her any justice by protecting her.

Shortly after Clinton and Trump were ferried off the fairgrounds Clinton by armored Chevrolet Suburban, Trump by golf cart Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is waging a populist challenge to Clinton for the Democratic nomination, stepped onto the soapbox.

As Sanderss commanding voice boomed from the tiny stage, hundreds of people perhaps 1,000 or more stopped in their tracks to listen, making the main concourse of the fair nearly impossible to pass for the roughly 15 minutes he spent speaking.

Sanders delivered his talking points about leading a political revolution to take on the billionaire class. And then, up in the sky, he spotted Trumps helicopter hovering, soon to leave town.

I apologize, Sanders told the crowd. We left the helicopter at home.

Philip Bump contributed to this report.

Philip Rucker is a national political correspondent for The Washington Post, where he has reported since 2005.

Jenna Johnson is a political reporter who is covering the 2016 presidential campaign.

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Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and chaos visit the Iowa ...