Clinton aiming to overcome Iowa obstacles

DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was in Iowa Saturday hoping to drum up support in the state's 2008 Democratic presidential caucus.

The Washington Post said Clinton's first visit to Iowa in more than three years is part of an effort to win caucus delegates in a state in which she trails in the polls.

While Clinton has been dubbed a front-runner for the nomination nationally, the New York senator finds herself trailing North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and others in recent Iowa polls.

Political adviser Steve Hildebrand, who is working on Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, said Clinton must attempt to portray herself as more personable to win over voters in Iowa.

"She's going to have to figure out how to get outside of that circle, in order to have the same kinds of dialogues with Iowa voters that all the other candidates are going to have," he said.

Learning how to win over the state's voters could prove vital as the first caucus of the 2008 campaign begins there next January.