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."
Mrs. Smith already had been endorsed by U.S. House Republicans' chief deputy whip Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as well as the Club for Growth, which advocates for limited government and lower taxes. She has garnered endorsements from the Christian conservative group Concerned Women for America and the Susan B. Anthony List, which fights against legalized abortion.
One of her GOP rivals, Chattanooga attorney Chuck Fleischmann, said the Cantor endorsement "doesn't concern us in the least for this reason. We have run this race from the inception as a newcomer to politics. I'm not a political insider. She's a party boss. I'm not a party boss."
He said "this just highlights the fact that Robin Smith is a political insider and beholden to the Washington 'Beltway.' Her support is coming from Washington, D.C., where my support is from Hamilton County."
Other GOP candidates are Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble, attorney Van Irion, businessman Tommy Crangle and businessman Art Rhodes. Democrat Brenda Short also is running.
The 3rd District seat had been held for nearly 16 years by U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who is running for governor.