HENDERSON, Nev.: Donald Trump pushed back Wednesday on Hillary Clinton’s accusation that he’s cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin after the charge put Trump’s running mate on the defensive during the vice presidential debate.
Trump offered effusive praise for Mike Pence’s performance — but also claimed credit for it — even as both campaigns acknowledged that the sole vice presidential debate was unlikely to alter the race’s trajectory.
The celebrity businessman said his relationship with Russia’s leader would be determined by how Moscow responds to strong U.S. leadership under a Trump administration.
“They say Donald Trump loves Putin. I don’t love, I don’t hate. We’ll see how it works,” Trump told a rally outside Las Vegas.
Clinton on Wednesday shrugged that off, saying Trump has “this weird fascination with dictators.”
“My opponent seems not to know the difference between an ally and adversary,” Clinton said at an evening fundraiser in Washington. “There seems to be some misunderstanding about what it means to have a dictatorship and provide leadership.”
Taking the stage in Henderson, Trump took a victory lap for Pence’s performance, which he called “phenomenal.” Pence’s cool demeanor contrasted with Trump’s bluster during his own, top-of-the-ticket showdown against Clinton. However strong Pence’s performance, Trump made clear he considers it a reflection of himself.
“I’m getting a lot of credit, because that’s really my first so-called choice, that was my first hire,” Trump said of Pence.
Even Clinton’s team wasn’t claiming that running mate Tim Kaine came out on top. Former President Bill Clinton, for example, said his wife’s running mate “did just fine.”
Kaine acknowledged that even his wife gave him a hard time for his constant interruptions during the debate.
But Kaine said he was effectively able to block Pence from attacking Clinton. “I’ve never played hockey but I think I’d be a good goalie, based on last night,” he said.
The big moment for their running mates behind them, both Clinton and Trump were shifting focus back to each other — and to Sunday’s town hall-style debate in St. Louis, the second of three showdowns between the nominees.
Clinton was deep in debate prep Wednesday at her Washington home. She was huddling with campaign chairman John Podesta, top policy aide Jake Sullivan and her debate advisers.
Trump, meanwhile, was on the campaign trail, making several stops across Nevada.
Campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said, despite Trump’s travels, the candidate was preparing “constantly” for the debate. Trump planned his own town hall in New Hampshire on Thursday.