Carly Fiorina to speak at Philly conference

Republican candidate has seen surge in polls after debate performance

Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, who saw a surge in several polls following what many considered a strong debate performance, will speak in Philadelphia at a November conference.

She will be the keynote speaker for the Keystone Conference on Business and Policy being held at the University of Pennsylvania from Nov. 19-20. 

The conference's website highlights her career in politics, such as her unsuccessful campaign in California for the U.S. Senate in 2010, and business, most notably her six years serving as Chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard.

Fiorina essentially brought herself within striking distance of other GOP contenders after sparring with frontrunner Donald Trump in the second Republican debate in September.

She currently sits behind Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson nationally, according to the latest poll aggregation numbers from Real Clear Politics

In Pennsylvania, Fiorina is in about the same spot. A recent survey from Mercyhurst University’s Center found her in fourth behind the two aforementioned candidates as well as former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. 

A Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday also has her placed fourth among GOP voters, sitting behind Trump, Carson, and Florida Senator Marco Rubio. 

In that same poll, she beats Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, 45-41 percent.

"Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson, the other two 'outsider' candidates in the GOP race, seem to be making progress," assistant director of the poll Peter A. Brown said in a release. 

He also noted that other candidates with more extensive political resumes were "treading water."