Pence declines to endorse McCain, Ayotte

GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence on Thursday declined to endorse Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) in their reelection bids, following in the footsteps of his running mate, Donald Trump.

{mosads}”I look forward to supporting Republican candidates in the days and weeks ahead all over the country, and so does Donald Trump,” Pence told reporters Thursday at a campaign stop in Virginia, according to NBC News.

“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 shoulder to shoulder with Donald Trump to drive that new leadership forward.”

Trump earlier this week declined to endorse McCain, Ayotte and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

The GOP nominee said McCain has not “done a good job for the vets.” He also criticized Ayotte for trying to distance herself from him.

Pence broke with Trump on Wednesday, when he announced he “strongly” endorsed Ryan, after Trump said he is “not quite there yet” on backing the Speaker.