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With a new plane, Clinton courts media on the campaign trail

In this Sept. 6, 2016, photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to members of the media on board her campaign plane as she travels to Tampa. When Clinton met up with her brand new campaign plane, she greeted crew members, climbed aboard and then made a surprise move: a bee-line to the dozens of journalists seated in the back. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
In this Sept. 6, 2016, photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to members of the media on board her campaign plane as she travels to Tampa. When Clinton met up with her brand new campaign plane, she greeted crew members, climbed aboard and then made a surprise move: a bee-line to the dozens of journalists seated in the back. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) In this Sept. 6, 2016, photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to members of the media on board her campaign plane as she travels to Tampa. When Clinton met up with her brand new campaign plane, she greeted crew members, climbed aboard and then made a surprise move: a bee-line to the dozens of journalists seated in the back. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

By Associated Press 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – For months, Hillary Clinton broke with campaign tradition and flew separately from the reporters who follow her around the country. The Democratic presidential nominee drew criticism along the way for a roughly nine-month streak of avoiding any kind of formal news conference.

Since the Monday arrival of her new plane – dubbed “Hill Force One” – Clinton has ventured from her seat up front to the back of her blue-and-white Boeing 737 four times, twice taking questions from reporters during trips to Ohio, Illinois and Florida.

Her reluctance to take questions from a freewheeling pack of traveling journalists has fueled criticism about her relatability and provided ammunition to Republicans and their nominee, Donald Trump.