I read the transcript. You're right. In fact she even called out those "desperate for change" as half of his base. She also said "we need to understand and empathize" with them too. Clearly there was a perception that she couldn't, wouldn't or didn't.
It's a good lesson in context and paying closer attention for me.
However, I still don't think that politically it made sense to say it, however she felt. Indeed some of Trump's supporters wear it like a badge of honor (as City fans wear . . . or, rather, wore ridicule as badge of honor even :)).
For what it's worth, I voted for her because (among other reasons) I knew exactly what Trump is, and have known for nearly two decades. I would have voted for Kacich had he won the Rep nomination.