The reception wasn't always positive (her ability to soldier on through that amazes me), and the media coverage often wasn't there or wasn't very positive either (how often do you remember media being gathered around to see Hillary in diners or at hospitals?)
I think it's wrong to say that she didn't - or wouldn't - campaign in small towns, or that other Democrats haven't - and won't - either. But it's also helpful if the media and the people in the small towns and rural areas give Democrats a fair shake when they do come through.
Hillary kicks off campaign in Iowa small towns
http://www.nationalmemo.com/in-small-town-iowa-a-mixed-reception-as-hillary-kicks-off/
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/hillary-clinton-makes-first-campaign-stop-in-small-town-america-755023
Hillary visits small school in Iowa (so did O’Malley)
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/12/22/small-town-iowa-students-get-clinton-to-visit-their-school/
Hillary’s plan for investment in rural America
http://time.com/4011190/hillary-clinton-rural-america/
Clinton makes 11 stops in Kentucky (including Paducah and Fort Mitchell)
http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/16/politics/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-kentucky/index.html
Clinton campaigns in coal country in Williamson, West Virginia (and was excoriated for being truthful)
https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/02/hillary-clinton-hears-wrath-of-coal-supporters-in-west-virginia/
Hillary campaigns at North Carolina state fair
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/clinton-vs-trump-in-north-carolina/488336/