NEW YORK: Hillary Clinton has begun an effort to convince voters that she is "fun" and a "real person".
The front-runner for the Democratic nomination for next year's presidential election has seen her popularity faltering in recent weeks.
One of the accusations levelled against Mrs Clinton by opponents has been that she does not seem "likeable" enough. Her campaign has set up a competition for supporters in which the winner will meet Mrs CLinton at the first televised Democratic debate in Nevada on Oct 13.
John Podesta, Mrs Clinton's campaign chairman, wrote an email to supporters urging them to enter.
He said: "She's a whole lot of fun. She can talk about anything and everything - from the Kardashians to wonky climate change policy. Meet her in person and see what I mean."
At the weekend, Mrs Clinton tried to convince television viewers that she was not detached. In her first appearance on a Sunday political show for four years, she was asked to use three words that describe "the real Hillary Clinton".
She said: "Just three? I can't possibly do that! I mean, look, I am a real person with all the pluses and minuses that go along with being that. And I've been in the public eye for so long that I think, you know, it's like the feature that you see in some magazines sometimes - real people actually go shopping."
In the latest poll, Mrs Clinton is backed by 42 per cent of those who will vote in the primary elections. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator, has the support of 24 per cent. Joe Biden, the vice-president, who is not confirmed in the race, has 22 per cent.