Mike Pence: ‘Donald Trump won the debate’

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence mounted a spirited defense of Donald Trump on Wednesday, saying it was Mr. Trump and his vision for the country that emerged victorious from Tuesday’s vice presidential debate.

“It’s great to be in Virginia — had a little debate last night,” Mr. Pence said at a campaign stop in Harrisonburg, saying he was “humbled and honored” to participate.

“Donald Trump called me late last night from Nevada to congratulate me on the debate,” said Mr. Pence, the GOP vice presidential nominee. “That really meant the world to me — it truly did.”

“Some people think I won,” he said to cheers and applause. “But I’ll leave that to others.”

“What I can tell you is from where I sat, Donald Trump won the debate,” he said. “Donald Trump’s vision to make America great again won the debate.”

“And when we take that vision to every corner of Virginia and every corner of this great nation, this movement, that man, and that vision are going to win all the way to the White House,” Mr. Pence said.

A CNN/ORC instant poll showed 48 percent of voters who watched the debate said Mr. Pence did the better job, compared to 42 percent who sided with Sen. Tim Kaine, who is Hillary Clinton’s running mate.

“You know, the truth is, they tell us this economy is the best that we can do,” Mr. Pence said Wednesday. “But Donald Trump and I know different. It’s not the best that we can do. It’s just the best they can do.”

“And when Donald Trump becomes president of the United States, we’re going to put those common sense, conservative principles into practice and we’re going to get the economy of Virginia and the economy of the United States of America back on the move,” he said.

Republicans have knocked Mr. Kaine for his persistent interruptions during the debate, while Democrats say Mr. Pence either declined to defend Mr. Trump or was mistaken about his running mate’s past comments on issues like Russia, immigration, abortion, and nuclear weapons.