He's with her – but is she with him?: Why did Hillary wait more than 12 hours to call Tim Kaine after the end of the only vice presidential debate?

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It took a while, but Democratic presidential nominee finally called running mate Tim Kaine – more than 12 hours after the end of the first vice presidential debate.

Clinton and Kaine spoke on the phone at 11:45 Wednesday morning, more than 12 hours and a full news cycle at the end of the contentious TV smackdown that Kaine had spent days preparing for.

Clinton also emailed Kaine about the performance, but it isn't clear whether she reached out to her running mate Tuesday night, while the debate was the talk of commentators and the political class. 

LETS CONNECT IN MORNING: Clinton called running mate Tim Kaine at 11:45 am Wednesday after he faced off against Mike Pence in the only vice presidential debate

Clinton got asked how Kaine did as she boarded a plane en route to fundraisers in D.C. Wednesday. She flashed two thumbs up but didn't say anything.

Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill, asked whey the two didn't connect sooner on what was most likely Kaine's most consequential night of the campaign, responded: 'They emailed a bit and connected this morning.' 

Clinton's response was glacial compared to her predecessor, who immediately called Vice President Joe Biden after his 2012 debate against then-Rep. Paul Ryan.

Obama watched the debate aboard Air Force One, then called Biden and immediately hailed his 'terrific.'

'I could not be prouder of him. I thought he made a very strong case,' Obama said on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base while returning from a campaign trip that night. 'I really think that his passion for making sure that the economy grows for the middle class came through. So I'm very proud of him,' Obama continued.

The president didn't have much to complain about. His own performance had been halting in his first debate against challenger Mitt Romney. 

Clinton and Kaine also connected by email – but it's not clear if they were in touch Tuesday night

Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta said Kaine 'did a real good job'

Asked on MSNBC who won the debate, Podesta declared that Donald Trump lost

Clinton campaign press secretary Nick Merrill (R), when asked why the two didn't connect sooner, told DailyMail.com, 'They emailed a bit and connected this morning'

YOU NEVER CALL: Kaine put his nice-guy reputation on the line by repeatedly cutting off Mike Pence in Tuesday night's debate. But he didn't get a congratulatory phone call from Hillary Clinton until nearly noon Wenesday

STILL AFLOAT: The flight crew demonstrate safety features on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's plane at Westchester County Airport October. Clinton had no public events Wednesday but flew to D.C. for fundraisers

SPEED DIAL: Vice President Joe Biden got a phone call from President Obama, who was busy both campaigning and running the country, the night of the 2012 presidential debate

Asked who won the debate last night, Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's first response on MSNBC was: 'Well, look, I think that Donald Trump lost and that was fairly clear -- and I just got in on the conversation but look, I think Tim Kaine did a great job. He defended Hillary, he laid out clear plans.

'And he kept putting Trump's own words to Mike Pence, and Mike Pence never defended Donald Trump, Podesta responded.

Podesta told reporters on the way to Clinton's DC home: 'Tim did a real good job. At the end of the day, I think the impression that everyone came away with was that Mike Pence didn’t want to defend Donald Trump.'

Kaine drew criticism in initial televised commentary for being over-prepared and frequently interrupting his opponent.

But it remains to be seen whether Pence did his campaign more harm by repeatedly shaking his head and denying Donald Trump said things that remain on tape.

 Clinton didn't speak publicly about Kaine's performance until after 6:00 pm on Wednesday, when she praised him.

'Did anybody see Tim Kaine in the debate last night?' Clinton asked at a Women for Hillary event at a Washington hotel, prompting the crowd to cheer.

'I though Tim did a great job and every time he tried to push Mike Pence to defend what Donald Trump has said and done, Pence just bobbed and weaved and tried to get out of the way because after all, trying to defend Donald Trump is an impossible task,' she said.

Clinton continued: 'Mike Pence was asked several times to justify how his running mate's dangerous views could be understood. For example, that Donald Trump wants more nations to have nuclear weapons. No real answer to that.'

'That Muslims should be prohibited from entering our country – that Mexicans are criminals and rapists. Well, Pence refused to defend the statements because they are indefensible. So when you're own running mate won't defend the top of the ticket I think that tells you everything you need to know,' Clinton concluded.