Carly Fiorina Steps Into White House Race, Swinging At Hillary

When Carly Fiorina launched her presidential bid Monday, she became the first — and likely only — woman in the crowded GOP field. But that’s not what makes her candidacy so distinctive. It’s her sharp-edged attacks on Hillary Clinton that stand out, and her willingness to be the tip of the Republican spear. Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, is a long shot to win the GOP nomination. She barely registers in the polls, has never held public office — and she lost the only race she’s ever run. Still, Fiorina’s poised to play an essential role for the party — one that could put her on a trajectory for the vice presidential short list if her 2016 bid falls short. The GOP, which has long faced a gender gap with women, must find a way to tarnish Clinton without reminding voters of clumsy messaging and tone-deaf statements that have fueled a Democratic theme of a Republican “war on women.” Recognizing the opening, Fiorina makes unalloyed criticism of Clinton a staple of her stump speeches.