Now, she's under fire for being too establishment, too untrustworthy and not progressive enough - and her hair, clothes, and lack of charisma have always been targets.
She's had peaks of high ratings - as secretary of state, her approval rating was at 65%, and she's been voted the most admired woman in the world 20 times. But as soon as she runs for office, those numbers drop.
Throughout this campaign, the media has talked about an "enthusiasm gap" for Mrs Clinton - the idea that those voting for her only do so grudgingly.