In the 2008 presidential race, the New York Times notes that Sen. Hillary Clinton "faces a problem that has dogged her since her days as first lady: an entrenched bloc of voters who simply do not like her."
"And her experience as a senator in New York shows that despite vigorous campaigning around the state since taking office, she remains an extremely polarizing figure who is unable to sway these voters to her side."
But when asked if this image would hurt her in a presidential run, Clinton said, "We have a president who is quite polarizing -- and very successful, I might add."