Carly Fiorina is poised to move to the GOP's big stage after her solid debate performance in the so-called "Happy Hour" exchange between Republican candidates not invited to participate in the Fox News prime time event on Thursday night.
Here are six reasons why Fiorina has thrust herself toward the GOP candidate top tier.
Fiorina impressed important influencers: Political gatekeepers like Fox News contributor Karl Rove, conservative columnist Tammy Bruce and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were wowed by her debate performance.
According to Politico, Rove said, "Carly Fiorina walked in tonight, owned the stage, owned it big."
Fiorina owned social media after the debate: Politico reported a Fox News poll showing 83 percent of respondents saying Fiorina won the "Happy Hour" debate, easily outdistancing the other Republican candidates.
NBC News reported Google Trends as showing a significant spike in interest in Fiorina after the debate.
Fiorina didn't shy away from taking on Donald Trump: In one of her most newsworthy responses during the debate, Fiorina referenced the speculation-bomb telephone call between GOP frontrunner Trump and former President Bill Clinton before the real estate titan jumped into the race.
"I didn't get a phone call from Bill Clinton before I jumped in the race," Fiorina said,
according to CNBC. "Any of you get a phone call from Bill Clinton? I didn't. Maybe it's because I haven't given money to the Foundation or donated to his wife's Senate campaign."
Fiorina even won praise from a fellow debater: When asked about President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry gave her a huge compliment.
"I will tell you one thing, I would a whole lot rather (have) had Carly Fiorina over there doing our negotiation than John Kerry," said Perry,
according to CNN. "Maybe we would've gotten a deal where we didn't give everything away."
Fiorina's debate performance caught the media's attention: For example, the former computer executive was invited on CNN's "New Day" on Friday after getting positive debate buzz and continued to reap praise on the network throughout the morning.
Fiorina has shown she can lock horns with liberal pundits: Case in point, she more than held her own with MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Thursday as she defended calling out Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as a "liar,"
per the Washington Examiner.
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