An hour after a Ted Cruz-supporting super political action committee announced it would give $1.5 million to any charity if Donald Trump met him for a one-on-one debate, fellow GOP candidate Carly Fiorina jumped in on the action.
Upping the ante, I’m free tomorrow at 8pm, @realDonaldTrump. My campaign will give $2mm to veterans’ cause to debate at Drake U. (2/2)
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) January 28, 2016
My campaign will also donate $1.5 million to veterans’ cause to join debate Saturday in Sioux City, @tedcruz @realDonaldTrump (1/2)
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) January 28, 2016
The former Hewlett Packard CEO tweeted late Thursday night that her campaign would match Keep the Promise’s $1.5 million donation to a charitable cause if Cruz and Trump let her join their debate in Sioux City, proposed for Saturday.
Fiorina upped the ante by daring the Manhattan billionaire to take her on one-on-one at the Thursday night rally he announced in place of his attending the seventh GOP debate, hosted by Fox News. Her campaign said it would donate $2 million to veterans’ organizations if Trump accepts.
It is unclear whether Fiorina, part of the undercard debate set for 6 p.m. Central time, would skip the debate or fulfill her obligations with the Republican National Committee before heading to Drake University — two miles away — to take on Trump.
Trump and Cruz are ranked first and second, respectively, in the Washington Examiner’s presidential power rankings. Fiorina has slipped to eighth in recent months. The party’s only female candidate gained national attention last summer and through the fall for her debate performances. A chance to meet with Trump on an event that may receive higher ratings than the Fox event could put Fiorina back in the spotlight days before the Iowa caucus.
Trump has not responded to Fiorina’s two requests, but chided Cruz on Wednesday afternoon before his PAC offered a financial incentive.
Even though I beat him in the first six debates, especially the last one, Ted Cruz wants to debate me again. Can we do it in Canada?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2016
