Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina says she is more likely than not to seek the White House in 2016, telling "MidPoint" host Ed Berliner on
Newsmax TV Tuesday that "the odds are over 50 percent," and that a decision on joining the Republican primary field is probably coming in late April.
"I continue to be very encouraged by the support I receive and the encouragement by people that I'm on the right track here," said Fiorina, who in 2010 ran for U.S. Senate, also as a Republican, in overwhelmingly Democratic California.
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Fiorina is making pre-campaign rounds with a message of entrepreneurial economics at home and a muscular approach to crises abroad.
She is also offering a sharp critique of liberalism. As she told
The Washington Times: "Everyone can live a life of dignity, purpose and meaning. Honestly, the core difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals don't believe that."
"They are fighting words," Fiorina agreed. "But you know, I spent a lot of time in the state of California, where I have seen liberal ideology play out."
"California is a state where liberal policies have been in place for a long time. The result is that here in California — where I happen to be today — the poverty rates are the highest in the nation, the middle class has exited, small businesses have left, there's soaring income inequality, we spend more money for pupil in 49 out of 50 states and yet, our educational achievement is 49 out of 50.
"In other words, liberal policies don't work to lift people up, they don't work to grow economies when government gets bigger and bigger and opportunity gets smaller and smaller. The data's very clear, but we have to make that case to the American people," she said.
U.S. foreign policy, especially in the chaotic Middle East, also needs an overhaul after six years of President Barack Obama, said Fiorina, sounding incredulous toward the
national security blueprint the White House published this month.
"When the president rolls out his national security strategy and says that we can't be distracted by disruption that ISIS causes and we need strategic patience, but the greatest threat really is climate change?" she said. "I don't even know where to start."
Fiorina also criticized the White House's eagerness to reach a negotiated nuclear deal with Iran and the administration's opposition to tougher sanctions on the Tehran regime to curb its suspected efforts to build nuclear weapons.
"There is a time to stop talking," she said.
Fiorina declined to portray herself as
some political observers have — as the GOP's gender-based answer to an expected Hillary Clinton candidacy. She also said she will cope with the intense scrutiny of a presidential campaign.
"That doesn't frighten me. It really doesn't," said Fiorina. " What motivates me is a recognition that our nation is drifting towards a future that is so limited for so many people, that we are drifting towards an ever larger, ever more powerful, ever more corrupt federal government that crushes potential in our economy. We're drifting towards a more dangerous world because of lack of leadership.
"I actually have sat across a table from Vladimir Putin," said Fiorina. "I actually have sat in the same room with Benjamin Netanyahu or King Abdullah or the Chinese leadership. I've actually spent a lot of time with leaders who are on the world stage today.
"As concerned as I am about a lack of potential for too many Americans in this country," she said, "I am equally concerned with the dangerous world that is out there … and with the failure of this administration under both President Obama and, frankly, [former] Secretary of State Hillary Clinton."
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