WASHINGTON and COLUMBIA, S.C. (12/1/15)--Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina will speak Wednesday in Charleston, S.C., at a credit union event organized by the Carolinas Credit Union League (CCUL) as part of a collaboration between the league and CUNA promoting the trade association’s Middle Class 2016 campaign.

Fiorina, former president/CEO of Hewlett-Packard, will speak at a Lowcountry Chapter of Credit Unions event that begins at 10 a.m. (ET) at South Carolina FCU in North Charleston.

CUNA’s latest Member Activation Program campaign is “Strong Credit Unions, Strong Middle Class” and focuses on educating all presidential candidates on the importance of credit unions and the benefits they provide to middle and lower-income individuals.

“Middle-class Americans are deeply worried about their financial security, and this presidential election may well revolve around how best to strengthen the middle class,” said Trey Hawkins, CUNA vice president of political affairs. “Our goal is to help credit union members engage the candidates directly and remind them that strong and healthy credit unions are essential to a strong and secure middle class.”

South Carolina is a hotly contested state with one of the earliest primary elections in the presidential race. Candidates will spend a lot of time in the state prior to the Feb. 13 Republican debate, said Billy Boylston, CCUL director of governmental affairs.

“We wanted to reach out to all of the candidates to visit a credit union before the debate to give our members an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and allow them to ask questions,” Boylston said.

“With 1.4 million credit union members in South Carolina, we believe that to win an election in South Carolina, you better talk to your local credit unions,” he said, noting how credit unions are important financial institutions in serving the middle class.

CUNA research shows that a majority of Americans--54%--say credit unions are the best place for middle-class families to deposit their money.

All of the candidates have been invited to learn about credit unions.

Visits by national candidates and their remarks resonate all the way down to state representatives, Boylston noted, adding weight to the positive effect credit unions have on their communities.