Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is appealing to supporters for donations in a bid to get onto the main stage at the next GOP presidential debate in September.
She wrote in an email missive that millions of Americans saw her speak for the first time on Aug. 6 in Cleveland at the “happy hour” debate, which was held for Republican candidates who fell outside the top 10 in an average of national public polls leading up to the debate.
“They saw that I’m not afraid of difficult questions. I’m not afraid of my record. And I’m not afraid of Hillary Clinton,” Ms. Fiorina wrote, referring to Mrs. Clinton, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential front-runner.
The pitch asks supporters to pony up to help her secure a spot on the main stage at the Sept. 16 debate presented by CNN and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The format for that debate also restricts one of the rounds to the top 10 candidates in polling released between July 16 and Sept. 10.
“Real leadership means, honestly, the exact opposite of everything Hillary Clinton stands for,” Ms. Fiorina wrote. “With your help, I’ll make that case during the coming debates.”
Her performance in the first debate appears to have earned Ms. Fiorina another look from some potential voters; she has edged into the top 10 in the RealClearPolitics average of recent public polling on the race for the GOP presidential nomination.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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