Wealthy businesswoman Carly Fiorina sought Monday to vault into the top tier of Republican presidential candidates by harnessing populist discontent with the “professional political class” — who she said was exemplified by Hillary Clinton.
It’s not clear that the newly minted 2016 candidate would make a radically populist pitch in her bid for the Republican presidential nomination. The former Hewlett Packard CEO and failed 2010 California Senate candidate revealed support for standard conservative fare like wholesale tax reform to lower all income tax rates, repealing Obamacare and hawkish foreign policies that include reversing course from President Obama’s détente with Iran.
But during a morning conference call with reporters, Fiorina, 60, repeatedly said that voters are frustrated with a Washington that has lost touch with ordinary Americans, and said her aim was to reconnect a disconnected populace with their government. Asked why she spotlighted presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in a video announcing her presidential campaign, Fiorina said the former secretary of state is what’s wrong with Washington.
“The point in highlighting her is she is the personification of the professional political class,” Fiorina said. “She reminds people that there is a huge disconnect.”
Fiorina is considered a lower tier presidential candidate but has surpassed expectations since launching her shadow campaign for the White House some months ago.
She is articulate on the stump and brought crowds to their feet with her criticism of Obama’s foreign policy and sharp attacks on Clinton. As the only Republican woman expected to seek the presidency in 2016, when Clinton is projected to be the first female to ever lead a major political party’s ticket, Fiorina is viewed as a valuable asset in the race, even if her bid for the GOP nomination flames out.
Fiorina has attempted to downplay any advantage she might gain because of gender, choosing instead to discuss her edge as running as a political outsider. She also has no choice. Fiorina has never served in government or won a general election. In a race with formidable sitting and former governors, plus a few senators with followings among the conservative base, she needs to prove that she is ready to be commander in chief.
Making that case successfully is not just imperative for winning over voters, but for raising money and hiring the competent political staff required to run a competitive campaign. Fiorina talked confidently Monday of her ability to keep surprising the doubters.
“We’ll have the money, we need to do what we need to do,” she said. “In many cases we get people who have disconnected from the political process and are connecting once again.”
Disclosure: The author’s wife works as an adviser to Scott Walker.
