Former Hewlett-Packard CEO and 2016 GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, asked for rapid-fire assessments of some of her Republican rivals, said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida would be a good selection for a presidential ticket — but maybe not in the slot Mr. Rubio has in mind at this point.
During a Thursday evening appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” program, Ms. Fiorina said it’s far more productive for her to be training her fire on former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton than on other Republican candidates.
“Some candidates are training all their fire on each other, and I think that’s unfortunate, actually,” she said.
But asked during a different part of the show for quick answers on some of the other 2016 GOP contenders, these were her responses:
On Mr. Rubio: “I think he is a politician with a great future. I think he would make a great veep.”
On Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky: “I think he is outside the mainstream of this party, and I think that we are a nation that must always [face] outward into the world. When we are not leading, which doesn’t mean rushing off to war, the world is a far more dangerous and tragic place.”
On former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush: “Jeb Bush is a very good man. I think that it’s difficult for people to think about a Bush 3.”
On Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (who has said he’s been approached about a Walker-Rubio ticket, or vice versa): “Guy with a lot of grit — a lot of grit and a lot of heart. He has a very different experience than I do, which is a lifetime in Wisconsin politics.”
On Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas: “Smart man — a very smart man. And I think that being president requires unifying the country.”
On former Texas Gov. Rick Perry: “Rick Perry’s a good friend of mine. Rick Perry got me to outsource a lot of manufacturing from California to Texas, as a matter of fact.”
Ms. Fiorina and Mr. Rubio were actually tied for fifth at 6 percent in a CNN/WMUR poll released Thursday on the GOP field in the early state of New Hampshire.
Mr. Bush was in first at 16 percent, followed by businessman Donald Trump at 11 percent, Mr. Paul at 9 percent and Mr. Walker at 8 percent.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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