NASHVILLE — The U.S. House’s No. 2 leader on Wednesday endorsed Republican 3rd Congressional District hopeful Robin Smith, the Hixson Republican’s campaign said.
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., is the fifth major Republican officeholder or organization to have endorsed Mrs. Smith in recent weeks.
“Eric Cantor has been a hero to the conservative cause with his steadfast support of policies that expand freedom and limit the reach of big government,” Mrs. Smith said in a news release.
In a subsequent interview, Mrs. Smith said U.S. Rep. Cantor “is looking for someone who has a record of doing things in the district and not being conservative just since Congressman Wamp has decided to run for governor.”
A former Tennessee Republican Party chairwoman, Mrs. Smith said “there are going to be some who want to say, ‘Oh, you’re the establishment candidate.’ But I would tell you a lot of the positive feedback that I’ve gotten has been based on … not being timid about reforms and not being timid about talking against our own party sometimes when we step out of bounds and spend too much money.”