Ex-Ohio Gov Ted Strickland put his foot firmly in his mouth Monday when he said Tim Kaine was ready to take Hillary Clinton's place, just a day after her famous collapse.

Strickland was introducing Kaine at Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton when he made the gaffe - especially unfortunate at a time when questions are being raised about Clinton's health ahead of the election.

He told the crowd Kaine was 'a wonderfully prepared person to be Vice President, and to be the President if that ever became necessary,' The Columbus Dispatch reported.

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Gaffe: Ted Strickland told an audience that Democratic VP pick Tim Kaine was 'a wonderfully prepared person to be Vice President, and to be the President if that ever became necessary'

'Chatty': Kaine (pictured at the event in Ohio Monday) told journalists afterward that Clinton was 'chatty and funny' on the phone that day, and full of energy on the campaign trail

His remarks came just 24 hours after Clinton collapsed during a 9/11 memorial event in New York, and her doctor revealed that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia.

But after a 35-minute talk at the school, Kaine told journalists that Clinton was in fine spirits when she talked to him on the phone that day - implying that he wouldn't need to fill presidential shoes any time soon.

'I was struck by how responsive she was to me, but also how chatty and funny she was,' the Virginia senator remarked.

'She has been on the campaign trail for 18 months. Her energy staggers me. I have a hard time keeping up,' he added.

Strickland, who is running for Senate, tried to do emergency repairs after his remarks.

'Secretary Clinton by all reports is a healthy person. A lot of people get pneumonia. That’s not something to be terribly concerned about,' he said.

'There have been efforts for a long time to imply that she is not healthy. I think that is part of her political enemies' attempt to conjure up a rumor that could hurt her politically.

'I don’t think there’s any evidence she has any serious, chronic health conditions that could make it difficult for her to serve as president.'