In other words, this wasn't merely a slip-up, as was McCain's senior moment in claiming Putin rules Germany. Even after Matthews tips him to the fact he's got his countries mixed up, he doesn't realize he's gotten it wrong, he just keeps on with the error.
He's really going for that "average everyday guy" thing, I guess. Personally I'm not comfortable with an average everyday guy president who can't tell Jordan from Syria, but I guess that's probably because I hate Jesus. Which is always the reason suggested for "the elite's" discomfort with this bumbling bumpkin.