Aide: Mike Pence Supports McCain and Ayotte
An adviser to Mike Pence told NBC News the Republican vice presidential nominee endorses John McCain and Kelly Ayotte in their re-election bids after originally skirting around the question earlier in the day.
"Mike Pence endorses John McCain and Kelly Ayotte in their primary bids," Pence communications adviser Marc Short said in a statement.
When asked about his support for the two GOP senators earlier on Thursday, Pence told reporters: “I look forward to supporting Republican candidates in the days and weeks ahead all over the country, and so does Donald Trump. But the stakes in this election are so high. To restore our country and home and abroad, we need new leadership, and I’m looking forward to standing should to shoulder with Donald Trump to drive that new leadership forward.”
Trump declined to endorse both senators, as well as House Speaker Paul Ryan. But aides to Pence said he never intended to withhold support for either of the senators.
Pence also told reporters that he sees “eye to eye” with Donald Trump on their views of the Khan family, the current iteration of the Muslim ban and Russia’s alleged role in the hacking of DNC emails.
“I think Donald Trump and I see eye to eye on all those issues,” Pence said. “Donald Trump and I both said that Captain Khan is an American hero and his family, like every Gold Star family, should be cherished, and by every American.”
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He continued: “With regard to other issues, I just—I've seen my role as simply amplifying the points that Donald Trump is making.”
On Wednesday, Pence announced his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan despite his running mate’s hesitancy to do the same ahead of the speaker’s Tuesday primary.
Pence said that he spoke with Trump about his desire to back Paul, a friend. It was the first acknowledgement of pushback by Pence.
When asked on Thursday whether he has shared any other positions of disagreements beyond Trump’s declining to endorse Speaker Paul Ryan, Pence told reporters that “those private conversations” will remain private.
Pence iterated on his plane that he and Trump will stand “shoulder to shoulder in this campaign” despite having different ways of delivering their message.
“We have different styles, but we have the exact same goals, the exact same vision, and I strongly support Donald Trump’s brand of leadership,” Pence said, adding that he speaks with the GOP nominee “just about every day.”