Top Candidates Struggle With Distractions From the Past

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.Nearly six months out from the first votes of a presidential campaign, candidates should be fleshing out who they are and what they stand for.Instead, some of the best-known 2016 candidates are toting hea...

In this photo taken Aug. 18, 2015, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks in North Las Vegas, Nev. Nearly six months out from the first votes of a presidential campaign, candidates should be fleshing out who they are and what they stand for. Instead, some of the best-known 2016 candidates are toting around heavy baggage that’s proving to be a big distraction from the conversations they’d rather be having with the American people. AP Photo/John Locher

WASHINGTON—It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Nearly six months out from the first votes of a presidential campaign, candidates should be fleshing out who they are and what they stand for.

Instead, some of the best-known 2016 candidates are toting heavy baggage that’s proving to be a big distraction from the conversations they'd rather be having with the American people.

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