Washington, Oct 6 (IANS): US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump praised his running mate Mike Pence for his win in the recent vice presidential debate, but took credit for the win.

"Mike Pence did an incredible job and I'm getting a lot of credit, because that's really my first so-called choice, that's really my first hire, and I tell you, he's a good one," said Trump.

The billionaire claimed that Pence's success proved that he has good taste in people, the Guardian reported.

At his own rally in Nevada on Wednesday, Trump said: "Americans also got to look firsthand at my judgment."

On Tuesday night, during the first and only vice-presidential debate against Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, Pence stayed calm and confident, while Kaine constantly interrupted and appeared nervous.

"He was phenomenal -- he was cool, he was smart -- he was meant to be doing what he's doing, and we are very very proud of Governor Mike Pence. Thank you, Mike Pence," said Trump.

Debating with Kaine on Tuesday night, Indiana Governor Pence taught a master class on how it's done. Every time Kaine attacked, Pence parried and deftly shifted the conversation.

Pence, in the debate, had aimed to stabilise Trump's bid.

According to the BBC, Pence's goal was to reassure Republicans panicked by Trump's debate performance last week and his bungling in the days that followed that cooler heads will prevail. And he did exactly that.