Former Hewlett-Packard CEO and GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina is wrapping up a successful week as she continues to climb up the polls and to the Fox News debate stage.
On Wednesday the Fiorina campaign released a stinging ad backing up statements the candidate has been making in speeches for months: Flying is an activity, not an accomplishment. Holding a title, is not an accomplishment.
Thursday night Fiorina made an appearance in the "Center Seat" on Special Report and fielded a number of questions ranging from the state of the GOP primary race, national security, Obamacare and more.
Also on Thursday night, Fiorina gave a rousing speech about the state of women and feminism in America at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. As a reminder, Fiorina started her career as a secretary and eventually became the CEO of one of the world's top tech companies in a male dominated industry.
"We have made undeniable progress. But we still have a very long way to go. Which brings me to another question I was asked by a child at that fundraiser I told you about. A young boy asked me: “What is feminism?” Feminism began as a rallying cry to empower women—to vote, to get an education, to enter the workplace. But over the years, feminism has devolved into a left-leaning political ideology where women are pitted against men and used as a political weapon to win elections. Being empowered means having a voice. But ideological feminism shuts down conversation—on college campuses and in the media. If you are a man—or a woman—who doesn’t believe the litanies of the left, then you are “waging a war on women” or you are a “threat to women’s health” or you are variously described as “window dressing” —Joni Ernst—or offensive as a candidate—Carly Fiorina. The progressive view of feminism is not about women. It is about ideology. And their policies are not working for women. The economic policies of this administration have been devastating: 3 million women have fallen into poverty in the last 6 years," Fiorina said during her remarks. "Here's what I told that little boy: A feminist is a woman who lives the life she chooses. We will have arrived when every woman can decide for herself how to best find and use her God-given gifts. A woman may choose to have five children and home-school them. She may choose to become a CEO...or run for President. I am a conservative because I know we are all equal in the eyes of God—men and women. Our principles work better to lift men and women up so that they can choose their own path and live lives of dignity, purpose and meaning."
Fiorina now sits at number four on Chris Stirewalt's power index.
2016 GOP POWER INDEX: FIORINA STILL RISING, PAUL SURVIVES
1) Jeb Bush; 2) Scott Walker; 3) Marco Rubio; 4) Carly Fiorina [+1]; 5) Ted Cruz [-1]; 6) Rand Paul [+1]; John Kasich [-1]; 8) Ben Carson; 9) Mike Huckabee; 10) Rick Perry [previously unranked]Rubio ought to keep his eye on Carly Fiorina, who is building up some momentum. Despite starting from flat-line name identification, Fiorina has consistently impressed on the stump and recently returned from what is said to have been a successful West Coast fundraising swing. Fiorina still lags in the horse race, but if she keeps doing what she has done in early states, Rubio will have to start thinking about her as a threat. While she still struggles to be seen as a top-of-the-ticket choice rather than a running mate, she is gaining an influential following.
Fiorina has done hundreds of interviews since announcing her candidacy for President in May. Her main opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, has done zero sit down interviews with the national press since announcing her run for the White House last month.
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