Putin praises 'bright and talented' Donald Trump

Donald Trump has said that he would "get along very well" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The feeling is apparently mutual. "He is a bright and talented person without any doubt," Putin said, adding that Trump is "an outstanding and talented personality." And in remarks closely mirroring Trump's assessment of the campaign, the Russian leader called Trump "the absolute leader of the presidential race," according to the Russian TASS news agency . While most Republican presidential contenders have demonized the Russian president - including calling him a "gangster" and a "thug" - and pushed plans to isolate Russia on the world stage, Trump has instead touted his ability to improve Washington-Moscow relations by working with the iron-fisted Russian leader. Trump said in October that he and Putin "are very different" but suggested that the two men could move beyond the frigid relations that have come to define U.S.-Russia relations under President Barack Obama.