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 During the debate, the name of the former Hewlett-Packard Co chief
executive dominated Google searches of the participants in the Fox
News forum, and she shot far ahead of the others in rankings of
references on Twitter, according to analyses by Google and
Topsy.com.
Fiorina's low national polling results leading up to the debate
meant she missed the cut to take part in the prime-time Republican
forum of the 10 top candidates in Cleveland. Real estate mogul
Donald Trump, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and others were
invited to that prime-time event later on Thursday.
But fans and observers said she trounced opponents, including
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and former Texas Governor Rick
Perry, in what turned out to be a low-energy exchange among the
bottom seven. And many viewers said she belonged on the main stage.
 "They should invite carly fiorina back for the 9 oclock debate,"
former Republican presidential hopeful, the former Speaker of the
House of Representatives Newt Gingrich wrote on Twitter.
"Just finished watching 'Survivor: Cleveland.' Carly Fiorina
outperformed. She takes home the immunity necklace," wrote Eric
Fehrnstrom, a former aide to 2012 Republican presidential nominee
Mitt Romney, referring to a talisman from the reality TV show that
protects a player's place in the game.
LESS THAN 1 PERCENT
Fiorina, who garnered less than 1 percent of support in a recent
Reuters/Ipsos poll of the Republican field, squared off with other
low-polling candidates in what the media and politicians jokingly
called the "B-list" or the "kids' table" debate.
Fox News decided to restrict participation for its prime-time forum
to avoid a crowded 17-candidate stage.
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Both The Wall Street Journal and Fox News asked viewers to share
online whom they considered the winners of the first debate. Fiorina
far surpassed others.
She scored points with digs against fellow Republican candidate
Donald Trump and leading Democratic presidential candidate Hillary
Clinton.
Fans praised her polished presentation. "I'm not a member of the
political class," she said. "I can win this job. I can do this job."
Even Perry threw a spotlight on her, saying he would rather have
Fiorina negotiate foreign policy as secretary of state than John
Kerry, the Democratic incumbent.
One backer of another rival, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, had another job
in mind. The Instagram user louisianaforrandpaul posted a photo of
Fiorina and wrote, "Not going to lie, Fiorina just wrecked everyone
on the early debates. VP?" -- a reference to vice president.
(For a graphic on the candidates' policy positions, click on
http://reut.rs/1gNN90T)
(Reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Howard Goller)
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reserved.]
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