Carly Fiorina accepted nearly two dozen new endorsements in Iowa Tuesday, ranging from several state representatives to small business owners and leaders in the local veteran community.
The former business executive and Republican presidential candidate secured the support of Iowa state Reps. Clel Baudler, Josh Byrnes and Lee Hein, as well as State Sen. David Johnson who endorsed then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry during the 2012 election cycle.
“I think Carly is electable. I think she is tough enough to deal with any of these foreign leaders, including [Russian President] Vladimir Putin,” Baudler said in a recent statement.
“I believe with her business experience, her ability to communicate, and her fearlessness to take on the tough challenges we face today, she has demonstrated that she is qualified,” he added Tuesday in a statement released by Fiorina’s leading political action committee, CARLY for America.
Meanwhile, Byrnes cited Fiorina’s status as a Washington outsider as his principal reason for choosing to endorse her.
“I support Carly because I am tired of career politicians getting elected and getting nothing done in D.C. It’s time for a different resume to be elected as the next commander in chief,” he said, according to the Des Moines Register.
Audrey Scagnelli, a spokeswoman for Fiorina’s super PAC, said the 23 endorsements in the earliest voting state demonstrate “increasing momentum” for the female GOP hopeful.
“The more Carly shares her story and her record of leadership, the more supporters she gains,” Scagnelli told the Washington Examiner. “It’s no surprise that Iowans and people throughout the United States are attracted to her message of strength and opportunity.”
Fiorina has dropped to fourth place in the latest Washington Examiner presidential power rankings. Her campaign announced a third-quarter fundraising haul of $6.8 million on Tuesday.
