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Carly Fiorina Brings Campaign to Keokuk

Jason Parrott
/
TSPR
Carly Fiorina spoke to a crowd of more than 100 Tuesday night in Keokuk, just days before the Iowa Caucus.

Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina kicked off her town hall at Keokuk's Beef, Bread & Brew restaurant Tuesday evening by welcoming what she called the "salad bar contingent," a group of people who had to sit next to the salad bar because the room where Fiorina was speaking was full. She said that's why she is so appreciative of the people of Iowa, who have given her a chance to win the Republican nomination for President.

"When I launched my candidacy on May 4, 2015, I was 17th out of 16 candidates," said Fiorina. "That was not a misspeak... that's what I mean to say... because no one had ever heard of me, less than 4% of you had ever heard my name, the pollsters would not ask for my name, the pundits wrote me off, everybody said, 'she can't do this, this is ridiculous.' But you showed up. You showed up in restaurants, in living rooms, in dining rooms and in town halls. You listened and now you support me."

Fiorina spent more than an hour with the crowd of 100+ people in Keokuk. She said for too long, politicians have said a lot and accomplished little, and so she is running for President to change that. She said she knew the challenges that would come with running, adding that her experience as a woman in the business world has prepared her for that.

"Along the way, lots of people have told me to sit down and be quiet," said Fiorina. "Sit down and be quiet. Just settle. Don't rock the boat. Don't challenge the status quo. Just accept the way things are even if they could be better. I have ignored that advice all my life."

Credit Jason Parrott / TSPR
/
TSPR
Fiorina told the crowd she has a "Blueprint to Take The Country Back" and restore a citizen government in the U.S.

"I am running for the Presidency because I think the American people are being told the same thing and I think we have been told that for long enough now. I think we are being told to sit down and be quiet about our God, about our guns, about the abortion industry, about the failure at so many levels of our government that no longer works for us."

Fiorina said people are settling for stagnant incomes and more families living in poverty while the wealthy gain more money and more power on a daily basis. She said she has a plan for her first term in office, calling it "The Blueprint to Take Our Country Back." It consists of the following:

  • Radically Simplify the Tax Code
  • Pass Zero-Based Budgeting
  • Repeal Obamacare
  • Stand for Life & Religious Liberty
  • Secure Our Borders
  • Defeat ISIS

"These are not the only things we have to do, but these are the first and most important things we have to do to take our country back," said Fiorina. "I wrote it down because I want you to hold me accountable. I wrote it down because you are going to help me get it done."
She said she cannot put her blueprint in place, though, without Iowans going out on caucus night, speaking for her, and "putting the wind at her back" heading to the New Hampshire primary.