Fiorina starts fundraising for main CNN debate

Carly Fiorina is launching a fundraising push in hopes of making the second GOP presidential debate’s main stage next month, a new report says.

{mosads}Fiorina sent an email on Thursday calling for supporter contributions before the CNN event airs on Sept. 16, according to The Washington Times. 

“Real leadership means, honestly, the exact opposite of everything Hillary Clinton stands for,” she said in the message of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. “With your help, I’ll make that case during the coming debates.”

“They saw that I’m not afraid of difficult questions,” Fiorina said of those who saw her previous debate performance, on Aug. 6. “I’m not afraid of my record. And I’m not afraid of Hillary Clinton.” 

The former Hewlett-Packard CEO’s cash call follows her participation in the GOP’s first televised presidential debate on Fox News earlier this month. 

She is currently surging in voter popularity following a strong showing in the Aug. 6 “happy hour” contest by Fox News in Cleveland.

The Hill declared Fiorina the winner of that event, which was held for Republican candidates outside the top 10 campaigns based on an average of national polls.

Fiorina is now struggling for a place on CNN’s main stage next month during its debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. 

At issue is CNN’s debate methodology, which weighs polls from July 16 to Sept. 10. Those criteria — released earlier this year — hurt Fiorina’s chances because of her poor showing in earlier polls.

Fiorina received 1 percent support or less in most samplings conducted before the debate and as much as 5 percent in the two polls since the debate that CNN will include in its decision on who is on the main stage.

The former businesswoman has made contrasting herself with Clinton a top strategy of her Oval Office bid.

She has repeatedly argued she is a more transparent alternative to Clinton, President Obama’s former secretary of State.

Fiorina has also argued that her business background offers a fresh perspective on guiding the nation, given that she has never served as a professional politician.