Democratic Senate candidate Ted Strickland told attendees Monday at a Tim Kaine rally in Dayton, Ohio that Hillary Clinton’s running mate is "ready to become president" should the need arise.
Kaine, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, held an organizing event at Dayton Stivers High in the key battleground state. Former Ohio Gov. Strickland gave a speech prior to Kaine’s remarks, promising supporters that Kaine is ready to fill Clinton’s shoes if the situation every becomes necessary.
Darrel Rowland, the public affairs editor at the Columbus Dispatch, reported the comments on Twitter.
Tim Kaine "ready to become the president" if that ever became necessary, ex-Ohio Gov Ted Strickland says in intro at Dayton Stivers High
— Darrel Rowland (@darreldrowland) September 12, 2016
Strickland’s comment comes a day after Clinton left a 9/11 memorial event in New York City early due to "heat exhaustion" from her pneumonia. An onlooker filmed Clinton leaving the event. The Democratic presidential candidate appeared to faint, requiring assistance from her security detail to help her into a van.
The former secretary was diagnosed with pneumonia Friday, bit the Clinton campaign did not release a statement confirming the diagnosis to the public until Sunday hours after the incident.
Strickland is trailing heavily in his Senate race to incumbent Republican Rob Portman, who has an 11-point lead according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.