Why it matters: Carly Fiorina is running
WASHINGTON — Let's start with the obvious: Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is a woman, and the only woman in a wide-open Republican presidential field.
Hillary Clinton, the dominant front-runner for the Democratic nomination, is a woman, too.
That combination of factors has given Fiorina's long-shot bid for the Republican nomination attention it otherwise wouldn't command. Some Republicans believe her gender makes it possible for her to be critical of Clinton without being charged with sexism — and for whatever reason Fiorina has been more fiercely critical than just about anybody else.
Fiorina herself told a breakfast of reporters sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor, "If Hillary Clinton were to face a (Republican) female nominee ... she won't be able to play the gender card."
She also says the former secretary of State traveled a lot but didn't accomplish much. Clinton, she says, is "not trustworthy."
Finally, there's always the vice presidency. If Fiorina does well in the 2016 debates — and assuming Clinton is the Democratic standard-bearer — the Republican nominee just might be looking for a female running mate.