Pence: Putin remark ‘wasn’t an endorsement’

Mike Pence on Saturday clarified his remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin being a stronger leader than President Obama, saying it wasn’t an “endorsement” of the Russian autocrat, according to Politico.

{mosads}During a rally in Paris, Va., Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee, called out his Democratic counterpart, Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.), for criticizing the remark.

“Now, I heard the other day that [Democratic nominee] Hillary Clinton’s running mate, your senator, said it was unpatriotic for [Republican presidential nominee] Donald Trump and I to criticize the president’s record on foreign policy or say that some other leaders in the world were stronger on the world stage,” Pence said. 

“Well, Tim, when Donald Trump and I said that the small and bullying president of Russia was a strong leader on the world stage, that wasn’t an endorsement of Vladimir Putin; that was an indictment of the weak and feckless leadership of this president and your running mate,” the Indiana governor continued. 

“America is stronger than Russia. America’s system is superior and better than Russia in every way. It’s time we had a leader who would command the respect of the world and lead on the world stage with American strength.”

Pence on Thursday said in a CNN interview that it’s “inarguable” that Putin has been a stronger leader than Obama.