A SURPRISING TARGET
Fiorina attacked by Dems after surge in polling
Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina vaulted into fifth place in a Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald poll of Granite State voters — prompting Democrats to target the California businesswoman who could be Hillary Clinton’s biggest threat.
“She is not afraid to take on Hillary,” said Gene Chandler, a Fiorina supporter and former GOP speaker in the New Hampshire state house. “When the Democrats are attacking you, you know you’re doing something right.”
Officials from the Democratic National Party, who had blasted Fiorina’s role as the former CEO at Hewlett-Packard after the Fox News debate, suddenly turned their fire on her maternity leave policies.
“Carly Fiorina revealed her latest out-of-touch stance for women and families — opposition to paid family leave requirements,” read a scathing statement from the DNC.
The attacks come as Fiorina’s polished performance in the Fox News debate undercard boosted her to 9 percent in the FPU/Boston Herald poll released yesterday after she had spent most of the campaign at the bottom of the pack. Fiorina’s favorability in New Hampshire also skyrocketed as 55 percent polled say they approve of Fiorina and only 12 percent say they have an unfavorable opinion of her.
And in a race that’s likely to be decided by female voters, Fiorina also has an edge.
Among women voters alone, Fiorina towers over Trump, who has 55 percent of the Granite State’s female voters viewing him unfavorably and 39 percent favorably. Fifty-five percent of those same women view Fiorina favorably and only 10 percent unfavorably.
Chandler said Democrats are looking to undercut the only serious Republican female candidate before she gets a chance to take on Clinton. Her presence in the race would also undercut Clinton’s push to make history by being the first woman elected to the White House.
Chandler said he expects Fiorina’s high-profile media hits, like joining “CBS This Morning” today, combined with a serious role in upcoming debates will continue to fan the flames of her popularity.
“We knew as soon as people could hear her speak that they would like her,” he said. “She’s a great candidate, but she was unknown and now we’re finally getting the word out.”