Sources have confirmed that Ted Cruz’s big announcement at 4 p.m. on Wednesday will be his decision to make former Hewlett-Packard (HP) CEO Carly Fiorina his vice presidential pick, should he win the Republican nomination at a contested convention.
It was reported Monday that Cruz’s campaign was vetting Fiorina for such a position. After Donald Trump’s sweep in the Northeastern primaries on Tuesday, it is necessary for his campaign to change the narrative. In the wake of his victory, Trump established the hashtag #DefeaTed and argued that he was the “presumptive nominee.” This is not true, but so long as media coverage focuses on The Donald’s expected victories in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, Cruz can barely get a word in edgewise.
The news that Fiorina was Cruz’s big announcement broke on Twitter. NBC News captured the former HP CEO in Indianapolis, where Cruz is set to make the announcement.
CONFIRMED: Carly Fiorina’s in Indianapolis – spotted by @NBCNews cameras. More to come. #veepstakes?
— Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) April 27, 2016
Then sources confirmed to WMUR reporter Josh McElveen that Cary is indeed Cruz’s big Wednesday surprise.
Sources confirm to myself & @jdistaso that @tedcruz intends to name @CarlyFiorina as VP pick if #GOP picks him. #nhpolitics #fitn — Josh McElveen (WMUR) (@JoshMcElveen) April 27, 2016
Fiorina dropped out of the presidential race after finishing seventh in the New Hampshire primary on February 9. She endorsed Cruz one month later.
Before running for president, the former HP CEO ran for U.S. Senate in California, winning the Republican nomination but losing to the incumbent, Barbara Boxer. Boxer hit Fiorina hard on her record at HP, destroying the insurgent candidate’s campaign. Nevertheless, Fiorina did win the Republican nomination in California, and it is that experience which likely motivated Cruz’s decision.
As the race nears the finish, Cruz has begun to focus on two pivotal states: Indiana, which votes next Tuesday May 3, and California, which votes last, on June 7. If Cruz wins both of those states, he can virtually guarantee a contested convention, where the Texas senator would be the favorite, after the first ballot.
Fiorina will also likely prove a strong debater to hit back against The Donald, as the frontrunner is likely to continue to insist Cruz and Kasich drop out of the race. The former HP CEO holds no punches, but attacks with a grace largely foreign to The Donald, and even to Hillary Clinton.
Many conservatives who enjoyed seeing Fiorina’s strong debate performances and hope to see her face off against Clinton will likely welcome the decision, while others will consider it too early for Cruz to have announced such a move. Without fail, however, this will alter the narrative.
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