

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton responds to Anderson Cooper during a CNN Democratic Town Hall in Derry, N.H. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Hillary Clinton's most reflective answer of the CNN town hall forum in New Hampshire on Wednesday night came in answer to a question from a rabbi.

It was, in essence: How do you deal with running for higher office with humility?

In her answer, Clinton reflected on the difficulty of adjusting to the personal demands of campaigning and of being at the center of public scrutiny for most of her adult life.

She acknowledged that compared to her husband, former President Bill Clinton, she has struggled with campaigning: "This is hard for me," Clinton said.

"I met my husband, who was such a natural, knew exactly what he wanted to do. I was happy to support him," Clinton said.

Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton answered questions about being a progressive, military intervention, end-of-life choices, faith and more at CNN's democratic forum in Derry, N.H., on Feb. 3. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

There was also a rare moment of reflection on some of the more difficult times of her public life — many of which had to do with Bill Clinton's infidelities, which unfolded publicly during his time in political office.

"I've never talked about this much publicly," Clinton said. "Everybody knows I ... I have lived a very public life for the last 25 or so years. And so I've had to be in public dealing with some very difficult issues and personal issues, political, public issues."

She said that a line from the parable of the prodigal son by Henri Nouwen became a "lifeline."

"And it basically is: practice the discipline of gratitude."

Clinton also noted — twice at the CNN forum — that she didn't expect to run for president, a statement that would surprise many of her detractors who accuse her of unbridled ambition.

Clinton, who was raised as a Methodist, said that grounds herself in her faith, and that she receives a scripture reading from a minister every morning.

Read her full response: