CA convention is a homecoming of sorts for Carly Fiorina

(AP) — When Carly Fiorina spoke at the California Republican Party convention at a hotel outside San Francisco airport, it was a brief homecoming of sorts for the newly minted vice presidential candidate.

Fiorina grew up in the Bay Area and became chief executive officer of Hewlett Packard there before plunging into politics with an unsuccessful run against Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2010.

Normally an afterthought in the presidential nominating contest, California's 172 delegates that are up for grabs on June 7 may decide whether Donald Trump becomes the party's nominee or if Cruz still has a shot to take the title on a second ballot at the Republican National Convention in July.

Vice presidential selections rarely move votes in a general election, but Trump opponents are hopeful Fiorina can help Cruz in the Golden State's primary.

[...] she won more votes in this overwhelmingly Democratic state than other Republican candidates for statewide office that year and displayed a hard-charging campaign style that endeared her to many Republicans.

State party chairman Jim Brulte said Fiorina was the first presidential candidate to respond to his invitation to appear at the state party convention that he issued to the entire presidential field in January, when she was still a contender for the top office.

Cruz spoke to the convention Saturday afternoon and highlighted his running mate, saying she'd be the first Californian on a national ticket since Reagan, although she lives in Virginia, home to many national political aspirants.