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Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina gain GOP recognition
(Sacramento Bee, The (CA) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sep. 4--ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Both are California women. Both are wealthy Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Both were considered vice presidential contenders.
And both former eBay CEO Meg Whitman and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina had a chance to boost their future political profiles as they preceded vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on the podium Wednesday evening at the Republican National Convention.
The two are considered possible candidates to replace Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in two years, if not serve in a John McCain Cabinet before then. They have never held public office, but their business experience merited them consideration on McCain's vice presidential list.
Whitman, former head of online auctioneer eBay, introduced herself Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center as a "wife and mother who raised two boys in my beautiful home state of California," as well as a "president and CEO of a Fortune 500 company."
She said women faced limited opportunities when she was growing up.
Whitman, praised recently by McCain as one of the "three wisest people" on whom he would rely heavily in his administration, used her speech to focus on his economic and energy proposals.
Fiorina, a former HP executive and a victory chairwoman for the Republican National Committee, addressed what McCain's first term as president would entail and explained her support.
"As a woman, I support him because I know he values the contribution of women to our families and to our communities," Fiorina said. "... As a business person, I support him because I know his programs will strengthen small business, foster growth and create jobs."
Whitman, 52, spent the week addressing various state delegations and meeting California Republicans.
Fiorina, 53, spent little time this week schmoozing with the California delegation, instead focusing on addressing national media for the campaign, including Wednesday at a news conference to defend Palin's credentials.
Fiorina warned that Republicans wouldn't put up with sexist treatment of Palin.
"One of the things I have been told by many, many Democrats over the last several months is how disappointed they were in their own party for not standing up against the sexist smears that Hillary Clinton endured," she said. "The Republican Party will not stand by while Sarah Palin is subjected to sexist attacks."
Whitman had a different view.
"I actually think it's completely fair for the media to vet Sarah Palin," she told Fox News. "I mean you are running for the second-highest office in the land."
Another former Silicon Valley executive, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, didn't have a spot on the podium but courted Republicans in California this week in anticipation of a potential gubernatorial run. Despite his reputation as a moderate Republican, Poizner has reached out for support from the party's conservative base.
California delegates acknowledged Wednesday they have little knowledge of Whitman and Fiorina, highlighting the initial name identification gap they would face among voters if they seek public office.
It took Janice Hawkins a second before Whitman's name rang a bell.
"I've seen her name, but I really don't know that much about her," said Hawkins, a delegate from Cerritos. "What I've heard about her, she's well qualified and she's a smart woman."
Neither has been battle-tested in California politics, even if they have run leading high-tech companies.
"They're obviously both extremely talented," said Ken Khachigian, a Republican strategist.
"In realistic terms, their preparation would have to be very serious and very thorough and very complete, because the segue from being a CEO of a Fortune 500 company to running for governor of California is not easy at all. It's very challenging, and it's very difficult. Someone has to mentally prepare them that this is not an easy exercise."
At a convention party Tuesday, Whitman said she first met McCain while discussing their mutual opposition to taxes on Internet sales. She highlighted his economic policy and said she supported his stances on lower taxes and free trade to improve the U.S. business climate.
Whitman also said she backs his energy policy, an "all-of-the-above strategy" that seeks to expand clean energy technology as well as offshore drilling and nuclear power.
"Once and for all, we have got to achieve energy independence," Whitman said. "In fact, this is going to be the moonshot for our generation."
To see more of The Sacramento Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sacbee.com/.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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