Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence on Thursday drew direct parallels between Donald Trump and former President Ronald Reagan, casting both men as bold truth-tellers and saying Mr. Trump is “the most straight-talking candidate” since the 40th U.S. president himself.
“Ronald Reagan spoke truth to the American people — just like Donald Trump has,” said Mr. Pence, speaking at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
“The most straight-talking candidate since Ronald Reagan is running against one of the most dishonest candidates ever,” he said, referring to Mr. Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
“The American people picked a bold truth-teller in 1980 and I know they’re going to elect a bold truth-teller” in 2016, Mr. Pence said.
“In both of these men, I just want to tell you, there’s so much that’s different in terms of [their] style and their background,” he said. “But at the very core, both Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump are united in a boundless faith of the American people.”
Mrs. Clinton tried to use Mr. Reagan against Mr. Trump earlier Thursday. A day earlier at an NBC forum, the GOP nominee had complimented Russian President Vladimir Putin’s leadership of his country and said U.S. generals have been “reduced to rubble.”
“What would Ronald Reagan say about a Republican nominee who attacks America’s generals and heaps praise on Russia’s president?” Mrs. Clinton asked. “I think we know the answer.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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