Fiorina: ‘Inexplicable’ to Me Why ‘Cruz Surrogate Thought I Was Playing the ‘V-Card’

KELLY: "Breaking tonight, a popular conservative radio host in Iowa now apologizing after getting major pushback on social media and from his wife for a sexist tweet he sent out during last night's debate mocking republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina as going, 'full v-word in her opening remarks.' Carly Fiorina's here, she's a former CEO of Hewlett-Packard. Carly good to see you. I guess you have to blow this off. You have to act like this doesn't bother you. I'm sorry to even have to ask you to respond to this. But it's like over and over people take these sexist shots at you."

FIORINA: "Well, I've been called the 'b-word,' so now I guess I'm going to be called the 'v-word.' What's amazing to me is, I told an American story last night in my opening comments. I told my story just like every other candidate has told their story. So it's inexplicable to me why this major surrogate of Ted Cruz thought that was playing the 'v-card.' But the more important point is this, this gentleman is more than a radio show talk host. He is a major surrogate for Ted Cruz and a major endorser. This is why Ted Cruz cannot possibly beat Hillary Clinton."

KELLY: "Well, because, I mean, is he responsible for everything his surrogates say?"

FIORINA: "Well, this is a major member of Ted Cruz's campaign. Ted Cruz relies on him to speak for him. In fact, he was speaking for Ted Cruz last night. So this is the Cruz campaign, and I think we need to be realistic about what we're going to face with Hillary Clinton."

KELLY: "You know, you have something in common with her in that regard, and that's probably the only thing -- that will probably conclude the list of things you have in common. But she's going through some sexist attacks and will go through more and you are too. And I know viewers -- they don't want to hear it. Whatever, everybody has got their troubles. But it is a recurring theme."

FIORINA: "Well, yes. Look, I believe in meritocracies. L will never ask for people's support because I'm a woman. I will ask for people's support, I believe I'll be the nominee because I think the more people hear, the more they realize I'm the most qualified candidate to beat Hillary Clinton and to become president of the United States. I also happened --" [Crosstalk]

KELLY: "Because you're strong, because you're fiery, not actually because you are a woman."

FIORINA: "I'm very proud to be a woman and 53 percent of our nation are women."