Washington (CNN) Their handling of politically perilous issues this week couldn't have been more different: Jeb Bush, persistently fielding questions in public, hemmed and hawed for days over Iraq, while Hillary Clinton stayed radio silent while her party waged an internal fight over trade.

In their divergent approaches, though, is evidence to support the same conclusion about the two contenders with famous last names: They are exactly what their skeptics thought they were.

That perception, at least, is the risk for both Bush and Clinton as their presidential aspirations are confronted by some of the toughest pieces of their families' legacies.

For Bush, it's his brother's 2003 invasion of Iraq. The former Florida governor, who is often seen as one of the more accessible potential 2016 contenders, first dodged the question of whether, with a full grasp of the facts now, the war was a mistake. He later dismissed the question as "hypothetical" before finally acknowledging on Thursday that the issue wasn't going away and said that "knowing what we know now, I would not have engaged — I would not have gone into Iraq."

For Clinton, it's her husband's North American Free Trade Agreement — still despised by unions, environmentalists and other important elements of the Democratic base. And that's just the root of the challenge: as President Barack Obama's secretary of state, Clinton was America's top diplomat as several more trade deals, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, were being negotiated.

The result for both was that the week underscored their 2016 vulnerabilities: Bush, the latest in his family's line rather than his own man; Clinton, the calculating politician whose views shift with the wind.

On style in recent weeks, Bush and Clinton couldn't have less in common. The two are, more than any other candidates in the 2016 field, comfortable talking about anything and everything. But Bush's exchanges have included questions from reporters at many of his events, while Clinton has — by the most generous count — taken a total of 13 questions since entering the race, and hasn't sat for any interviews.

Take Chipotle: Clinton was discovered on a closed-circuit security feed in one of the restaurants only after she'd been there. Bush talked with reporters in New Hampshire about the local franchise in Miami, and how he really likes to cook up his own Mexican food at home.

Still, Bush has insisted that he's not yet actually a candidate — that he's still in an exploratory phase. And neither Bush nor Clinton have detailed the policy underpinnings of their campaigns.

Bush appeared unprepared this week to answer one of the most obvious questions his candidacy would face: With the benefit of hindsight, was the Iraq war a mistake?

He was confronted Wednesday in a town hall meeting in Nevada by a voter who didn't care for Bush's insistence that questions such as those are hypothetical and therefore shouldn't be answered.

The Reno man's point: The entire exercise of running for president is answering one big hypothetical question.

In Tempe, Arizona on Thursday, Bush had had enough.

"Knowing what we now know, I would not have engaged — I would not have gone into Iraq," he said.

Photos: Jeb Bush's life Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush waves as he takes the stage as he formally announces he is joining the race for president with a speech June 15, 2015, at Miami Dade College in Miami. Hide Caption 1 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Former Florida governor Jeb Bush shakes hands with attendees after speaking at the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference on February 27 in National Harbor, Maryland. Hide Caption 2 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Bush takes a selfie with a guest at a luncheon hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on February 18 in Chicago. Bush delivered his first major foreign policy speech at the event. Hide Caption 3 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Bush hands out items for Holiday Food Baskets to those in need outside the Little Havana offices of CAMACOL, the Latin American Chamber of Commerce on December 17 in Miami. Hide Caption 4 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Bush waves to the audience at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 30, 2012, on the final day of the Republican National Convention. Hide Caption 5 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Bush (left) and wife Columba Bush attend the 2012 Lincoln Center Institute Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on March 7, 2012, in New York City. Hide Caption 6 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life President Barack Obama (left) speaks about Bush (center) while visiting Miami Central Senior High School on March 4, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The visit focused on education. Hide Caption 7 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Bush (left) speaks with Brazilian President in charge Jose Alancar during a meeting at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, April 17, 2007. Bush was in Brazil to speak about sugar and ethanol business. Hide Caption 8 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Then-Texas Governor Rick Perry (center) testifies as Bush (right) and then-Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (left) listen during a hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security on Capitol Hill October 19, 2005. Hide Caption 9 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Bush gives a thumbs up signal from his car as he leaves a local polling station after casting his vote in Coral Gables, Florida, November 5, 2002. Hide Caption 10 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Bush walks out of the West Wing after meeting with his brother, then-President George W. Bush, at the White House January 9, 2002. Governor Bush participated in the signing ceremony of the Everglades Protection Agreement. Hide Caption 11 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Then-Mexican President Vincente Fox (left) and Bush hold a press conference September 7, 2001, in Miami. Fox visited Florida to attend the Americas Conference and deliver a speech to speak about issues such as immigration. Hide Caption 12 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Then-President George W. Bush (right) is greeted by Jeb Bush on March 21, 2001, at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida. President Bush was in Orlando to attend the American College of Cardiology Annual Convention. Hide Caption 13 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Bush speaks during a press conference at the Carandolet Government Palace in Quito, January 18, 2006. Bush and a businessmen delegation were in a two-day visit to talk about a free trade agreement. Hide Caption 14 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Bush speaks to reporters after meeting with the Florida State Cabinet at the Florida State Capitol Building November 16, 2000, in Tallahassee, Florida. Hide Caption 15 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Then-President George W. Bush (left) and Jeb Bush (right), raise their arms onstage following a rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds, October 25, 2000, in Brandon, Florida. Hide Caption 16 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Jeb Bush (left) and then-President George W. Bush stand with their arms around each other's shoulders at a rally in Miami, Florida, September 22, 2000. Hide Caption 17 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Then-President George W. Bush (right) and Jeb Bush go through the line for strawberries during a stop at the Stawberry Festival March 12, 2000 in Plant City, Florida. Hide Caption 18 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life The Bush family, (left to right) former U.S. President George W., former Florida Governor Jeb, former President George H.W. and his wife Barbara, watch play during the Foursomes matches September 25, 1999 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts the site of the 33rd Ryder Cup Matches. Hide Caption 19 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Former President George H.W. Bush (second left), his wife Barbara Bush (left), their son Jeb Bush (center), then-first lady Hillary Clinton (second right), and former then-President Bill Clinton (right) look up to see the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team November 6, 1997 at the conclusion of the dedication ceremony of the George Bush Library in College Station, Texas. Hide Caption 20 of 21 Photos: Jeb Bush's life Portrait of the Bush family in front of their Kennebunkport, Maine house August 24, 1986. Pictured, back row: Margaret holding daughter Marshall, Marvin Bush, Bill LeBlond. Pictured, front row: Neil Bush holding son Pierce, Sharon, George W. Bush holding daughter Barbara, Laura Bush holding daughter Jenna, Barbara Bush, George Bush, Sam LeBlond, Doro Bush Lebond, George P. (Jeb's son), Jeb Bush holding son Jebby, Columba Bush and Noelle Bush. Hide Caption 21 of 21

Making Bush's Iraq answers even more damaging was that they came on the heels of reports that, in a private meeting with donors, he said his brother is one of his chief foreign policy advisers, particularly on Israel.

Former George W. Bush White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said the Bush family legacy is "something that will follow [Jeb Bush] throughout his campaign" — but that the Iraq war issue, while a "difficult phase," won't cause long-term damage.

"It was your classic stumble," Fleischer said. "Every candidate will have one or two. The good candidates only have one or two. The candidates who get into trouble have many."

The Democratic National Committee unsurprisingly took a much harsher view, saying Bush's inability to separate himself from his brother on such an obvious issue was a game-changer.

"We got a long, hard look at what a Jeb foreign policy would look like, and here's the real shocker: It would look a lot like his brother's," said Arizona Democratic Party chair Alexis Tameron.

The most pressing issue Clinton faces — free trade — is a bigger problem than Bush's, Fleischer said, because Clinton's unwillingness to stake out a firm position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and related legislation recall her 2008 campaign, in which Clinton appeared most interested in avoiding controversy.

Today, Obama is pushing Democrats to adopt his position in support of the trade deal, while Clinton hasn't commented on the pact publicly beyond tepid statements since entering the race.

"This is your classic tale of a politician who isn't strong enough to take a strong stand. That can dog you," Fleischer said.

"That's why I think an issue like this, which is less sensational, can be more damaging," he said. "Because it's about a governing mindset, and her governing mindset is to find whichever position is most convenient in whatever time she's in."

For Clinton, her refusal to answer questions has left pressure building, making her every utterance more combustible.

That much was evident when it was Bill Clinton, during a visit to Africa, who was answering questions about his wife's presidential campaign platform, while the former secretary of state kept a quiet public schedule this week.

Clinton did privately address trade in a private meeting with donors Thursday in Brooklyn.

Former Sen. Evan Bayh offered the details afterward, telling a small group of reporters that Clinton "gave the answer you're familiar with: She said 'look I want to see what the proposed agreement is before expressing an opinion on it. We need to reap the benefits and at the same time ... help the people who would be adversely affected.'"

Democrats who support Clinton doubt that her handling of the press matters much at this stage with the election more than a year and a half away, and most voters not tuned in.

They offer an alternative view: Clinton's refusal to wade into the fight of the moment shows that she's learned from 2008 and is now much more able to stay focused on the messages most important to her.

Bayh said Clinton is in fact running a campaign that better mirrors her this time.

"There's something in some ways about being unsuccessful that can be liberating," the former Indiana governor and senator said. "She didn't have to run. She's focused on the fact that it's really not about her, it's about where the country needs to go. And that is a liberating perspective."