Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Sunday that Republicans have a built-in advantage against a presidential run by Hillary Rodham Clinton because she’s a “creature of Washington,” and Americans already have doubts about her trustworthiness.
Mr. Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, pointed to recent polls that show Mrs. Clinton’s reputation has been damaged by revelations that she exclusively used a private email account for official business as secretary of state and erased roughly half of the emails, possibly violating federal open-records laws.
“I think the American people are making that case [against her] already. You’ve seen in polls and discussions across the country the feeling that Hillary Clinton just isn’t trustworthy,” Mr. Romney said on “Fox News Sunday.” “That’s made people remember that with the Clintons it’s always something.”
Mrs. Clinton, who is expected to announce later Sunday that she is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, will enter the race as the undisputed front-runner with a formidable fundraising machine and ready-made base of support.
Still, Mr. Romney said that Americans may not be looking for a Clinton dynasty.
“She’s been there a long time. She’s a creature of Washington,” he said. “She’s been there a long time.”
He noted that Mrs. Clinton — a former first lady, senator and top diplomat — recently said she hasn’t driven a car in 18 years because she is always chauffeured by Secret Service or other security guards.
“I think people want to see change, want to see something new and Hillary Clinton just is not that person,” said Mr. Romney.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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