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Progressives have adopted a wait and see attitude toward Hillary Rodham Clintons presidential campaign after the former secretary of states latest attempt to transform herself into a populist champion ended with a thud.

Mrs. Clinton recently was forced to backtrack after she declared that businesses dont create jobs in America a comment widely interpreted as an effort to tap into the excitement around Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat who has cultivated a cult following on the left with her little guy vs. Wall Street pitch.

Mrs. Clintons explanation she now says she was merely criticizing tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas did little to blunt attacks from Republicans, but it also raised fresh questions about whether the former first lady is capable of waving the banner for progressive populism or if shell wilt at the first sign of a backlash.

Analysts say the Democratic presidential primary largely will hinge on which candidate best embodies the populist sentiment bubbling to the surface in American politics and captures the passion of voters who believe the system is rigged against the 99 percent.

At this point, Mrs. Warren, who recently seemed to crack the door to a White House bid, clearly delivers that message better than anyone. But if she declines to run for president, the jury is out on whether Mrs. Clinton can effectively carry the mantle.

Folks are wary of her closeness to Wall Street Theres a wait-and-see approach, said Neil Sroka, communications director at the liberal PAC Democracy for America. She said months ago that if you were going to run for president you have to run on an idea, that is an essential quality of running. If she decides that idea is the fight against income inequality, then I have no doubt she will run a strong, compelling, forceful campaign on it. But she has to make that decision.

While Mrs. Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, undoubtedly are part of the Democratic Party establishment, the former first lady seems to have decided that a populist platform is key to capturing her partys nomination.

On the stump in Massachusetts on Oct. 24, Mrs. Clinton struck a Warren-esque note with a sharp critique of the business community, perhaps an attempt to distance herself from Wall Street.

Dont let anybody tell you that, you know, its corporations and businesses that create jobs, she said at a rally for Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley.

Within days, however, she backtracked and claimed she shorthanded her position.

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Hillary Clinton's populist credibility questioned after Elizabeth Warren mimic