Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential race, will make a campaign appearance Friday in Portland.

Clinton will speak at a grassroots organizing meeting at 4 p.m. at King Middle School on Deering Avenue. Doors open at 3 p.m.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton will visit Portland on Friday. The Associated Press

Clinton will use the visit to rally supporters and help build organizational support for her campaign. She will also attend a private fundraising event, but her campaign declined to release any details on that gathering.

Party caucuses and primaries begin early next year. Maine’s Democratic caucus will be held in March.

Clinton, who lost her bid for the 2008 Democratic nomination to Barack Obama, announced in April that she would seek her party’s nomination for president in 2016.

Clinton has lost significant ground over the past two months, as she was embroiled in a controversy over her use of a private email server while secretary of state. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, Clinton is the choice of 42 percent of registered voters, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is second with 24 percent and Vice President Joe Biden, who has not announced if he will run, is third with 21 percent. Sanders’ support has risen by 10 points since July, according to the poll. Clinton’s support has declined, particularly among women.

Clinton last visited Maine in October 2014 to stump for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Michaud. She also made stops in Maine during her 2008 presidential primary campaign.

Tickets to the event are available through Clinton’s campaign website.

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