Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D.) praised the Republican ticket of Donald Trump and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Sunday for their Friday visit to the flood damage in Baton Rouge to help "shine a spotlight" on the devastation there.
Trump and Pence toured the damage brought about the incredible 6.9 trillion gallons of rain that hit the area between Aug. 8 and 14, according to CNN. They also met with volunteers and helped pass out supplies, and the Trump campaign said he made a $100,000 donation to the local Greenwell Springs Baptist Church.
CNN State of the Union fill-in host Dana Bash initially mischaracterized Edwards' earlier statements as not wanting Trump there, but they in fact were that he welcomed Trump coming to the state, just not for a "photo-op."
After Edwards corrected Bash that he simply hoped that Trump didn't turn the event into a campaign event, she asked Edwards if he was in fact helpful.
"For the reasons that I stated earlier, because it helped to shine a spotlight on Louisiana and on the dire situation that we have here, that it was helpful," Edwards said. "I will tell you that I also appreciated the good phone call, the conversation that I had with Governor Pence, who was sincere and genuine when he called and spoke for a long time on Friday morning about their desire to be helpful."
Edwards also praised the federal government's response to the disaster in the interview. President Obama has come under criticism for continuing to vacation in Martha's Vineyard, but the White House announced this week he would visit the damage on Tuesday.