Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine mocked Donald Trump Tuesday over the GOP nominee’s performance in the first presidential debate against Hillary Clinton.
“[Clinton] answered the questions that had to be answered and she told the truth. On the other side, you have a guy who is – well look, if you are that rattled in a debate try being president, try being president,” the Virginia senator told a group of campaign supporters in Orlando, Fla.
The presidential candidates faced off for the first time Monday in a debate held at Hofstra University in New York. Polling conducted after the debate showed viewers thought Clinton did a better job, and more than one survey declared the Democratic nominee the victor.
On Tuesday, Clinton and her team gloated a bit.
Kaine told volunteers in Florida that Trump, “didn’t give details about anything. He didn’t answer questions that needed to be answered, about his taxes for example. Except opined that he was smart for not paying taxes, for not supporting our vets, for not supporting the military, for not supporting our teachers.”
“[W]hat he really showed was just how rattled he was. Especially at the end when he was challenged about comments that he made about Hillary’s appearance,” the senator said.
Trump said in an interview earlier this month aboard his plane that Clinton does not have the “presidential look” to lead the country.
“I just don’t think she has a presidential look, and you need a presidential look,” Trump told an ABC News reporter. “You have to get the job done.”
He added he was referring to “aesthetics,” and said, “I’m talking about in general.” On Monday, during the debate, Trump said he meant Clinton doesn’t have the stamina to be president.
Clinton’s camp has maintained since he first mentioned her appearance that Trump was taking a none-too-subtle shot at her looks.
“He tried to say that it wasn’t about appearance, that it was about her stamina. And Hillary just said, ‘Look, you go to 120 countries. And you do an 11-hour congressional hearing, and then come talk to me about stamina,'” Kaine said Tuesday.
“When Hillary said that, she looked like she was ready for about 11 more hours of debate. But Donald Trump in the split screen was leaning up against the ropes like a boxer who was about to go down for a TKO. Hillary showed that she was ready for the debate and she’s ready to be president, and Donald Trump showed that he was running out of gas before the debate was one third through,” Kaine said. “She did a magnificent job, and I think she shows what this next six weeks is going to be like.”
Kaine is scheduled to debate Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, in Virginia next week.
