Goffstown, N.H. — Carly Fiorina told a crowd of supporters on Saturday morning that “the game is rigged,” assailing ABC News – which she called the “Anybody But Carly” network — for not inviting her onto Saturday’s GOP debate stage because of her low polling numbers nationally.
“If you ever doubted that the game was rigged, look at what’s going on that debate stage tonight,” Fiorina said during a campaign town hall in Goffstown. “Sorry, I thought votes counted in elections. Sorry, I thought delegates counted in elections.”
The former Hewlett-Packard CEO continued: “But apparently, the media establishment, the political establishment have decided they know better than you.”
Fiorina’s major grievance with the decisions was the inclusion of John Kasich, Chris Christie and Jeb Bush in the debate – but not her.
Fiorina beat Kasich and Christie in last week’s Iowa caucuses, and she left the Hawkeye State with an equal number of delegates as Bush.
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“I’ve already beaten a couple of the guys who are going to be on that stage tonight,” Fiorina said. “And I’m already tied with Jeb Bush in the delegate count — who’s spent tens of millions of dollars.”
Fiorina told the crowd that any notion of her floundering and dropping out of the race is a misnomer, suggesting she has the financial and organizational resources to maintain the fight despite an extra early-state setback.
“I will go all the way to Cleveland,” said Fiorina, referencing the site of the Republican National Convention this summer. “You send me out here with the wind at my back — what the media doesn’t want you to know is that — we’re ready to go. We’re funded to go all the way. “
The former CEO’s campaign announced on Saturday it bought a commercial time slot during Sunday’s Super Bowl. And the pro-Fiorina super PAC released a video, mocking up a fake ABC add announcing Fiorina’s elimination from the debate stage. And Fiorina called out the other candidates – besides Carson and Cruz whom urged her inclusion – for remaining silent about her presence. “I don’t know where the rest of the guys are,” Fiorina said. “But Ted and Ben are stand up guys.” Fiorina did not take up a supporter’s offer to join him outside the debate hall with “Carly” signs before the debate, saying she doesn’t have the “credentials” to but encouraged him to “stand up and make a lot of racket.” This article originally appeared on NBCNews.com.
Vaughn Hillyard is a senior White House reporter for MS NOW. Recommended
