What They Are Saying About Carly Fiorina at the Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner on May 16, 2015
Carly Fiorina Stole the Show. Republicans exulted in what they see as a smorgasbord of good choices in their 2016 presidential lineup, but former CEO Carly Fiorina seemed to steal the show at the Iowa GOP's Lincoln Dinner on Saturday night. The audience of 1,400 stopped just short of booing when dinner organizers cut the sound to her microphone when she reached the strict 10-minute speaking limit set for all 11 presidential hopefuls. One of Fiorina's best-received lines: "I was asked whether a woman's hormones prevent her from serving in the Oval Office. OK, ladies, this is a test: Can you think of a single instance in which a man's judgment was clouded by his hormones? Including in the Oval Office?" "She was like a fireball," said one dinner guest, Tanya Manatt, a 43-year-old Johnston resident who owns a bridal boutique. "She had a lot of energy, and she's not intimidated." (Jennifer Jacobs, “Iowa GOP audience delights in bounty of choices,” Des Moines Register, 5/17/2015
“CARLY FIORINA KILLED IT.” Downstairs at the Iowa Events Center after dinner, the line of people snaking into Fiorina’s hospitality suite stretched well out into the hallway, a noticeably longer queue than for any of her rivals. And everyone seemed to be buzzing about the former Hewlett Packard CEO. “She was very confident, probably one of the strongest speakers,” said Rick Haas, a Republican from Mason City. “She’s met with all those world leaders; she’s very strong on foreign policy. (Eli Stokol, “Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner: 5 takeaways,” Politico, 5/17/2015)
Fiorina a “crowd-pleaser.” The big story was the continued emergence of Fiorina as a crowd-pleaser whom Iowa Republicans say they take seriously. West Des Moines Republican Cathy Richards, a retired marketing executive, has seen Fiorina six or seven times now and was still caught up by her stump speech Saturday night. (Jennifer Jacobs, “8 takeaways from Iowa's Lincoln Dinner, its aftermath,” Des Moines Register, 5/17/2015)
“The @CarlyFiorina room is overflowing. There’s a line to get in #LincolnDinner” (Twitter account of Jessica Taylor, @JessicaTaylor, 5/16/15)
“She left us wanting more.” West Des Moines Republican Cathy Richards, a retired marketing executive, has seen Fiorina six or seven times now and was still caught up by her stump speech Saturday night. "She left us wanting more," Richards said. That feeling was reinforced by one of the most striking moments of the night, when Fiorina broke the 10-minute limit and her mic was cut off mid-sentence. A moan of disappointment rippled through the audience, then a few dozen people gave Fiorina the sole standing ovation of the evening. Joe Comes, a 46-year-old Des Moines Republican who owns an investment company, told the Register: "As a businessman, I'm looking for someone who's got business intellect and understands a budget and can run this place somewhat like a corporation. I'm tired of politicians. I want a president who has hired people and signed paychecks." (Jennifer Jacobs, “8 takeaways from Iowa's Lincoln Dinner, its aftermath,” Des Moines Register, 5/17/2015)
“Loudest applause of night for Carly Fiorina’s line about hormones clouding man’s judgement (“including in the Oval Office!”) #LincolnDinner" (Twitter account of Philip Rucker, @PhilipRucker, 5/16/15)
