Describing the anti-Muslim rhetoric coming from Republican presidential candidates as "dangerous", Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has called for having a sense of unity and purpose in combating terrorism.

"We need to have a sense of unity and purpose in combating terrorism. What I'm hearing from the other side is not only offensive and shameful, it's dangerous," Clinton said.

During the course of the interview, her first in 2016, Clinton, 68, avoided directly naming Republican front-runner Donald Trump, who has been personally attacking her for the past few weeks.

"I have a New Year's resolution. I will not respond to his personal attacks," Clinton was quoted as saying by MSNBC.

However, Clinton was highly critical of Trump's policy announcements and his statement without personally taking his name.

"We should not reward people who use inflammatory rhetoric, who use the kind of derogatory comments, whether it's about Muslims, or Mexicans, or women, or people with disabilities, whoever it might be," she said.

"That is not a sign of leadership. That's a sign of, you know, showmanship, of desperation, that should be rejected roundly by the American people," Clinton said.

When asked about the anti-Muslim rhetoric of her opponents, Clinton said she found remarks from Republican presidential candidates "deeply distressing".