Hardy says he’ll do whatever asked to get Trump elected

By Megan Messerly

Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016 | 12:54 p.m.

In his most vocal support yet for Donald Trump, Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy said earlier this month he was “100 percent” behind the GOP’s presidential nominee and would do whatever asked to help put Trump in the White House.

Speaking Aug. 2 at a meeting of the Nevada Republican Men’s Club, Hardy said he would “do whatever he wants me to do to help him get elected, and I think he’ll do the same for me,” according to a recording provided by a Democratic tracker.

But even in front of this partisan audience, Hardy, who has not talked much publicly about Trump, expressed some reservations about the candidate.

“Do I agree with Mr. Trump on all issues? No, I do not,” Hardy said. “But I think he’s the best man in this race to be able to accomplish what we want.”

His comments demonstrate the fine line down-ticket Republicans walk as they seek election.

On one hand, many GOP candidates have said they support Trump as the Republican nominee for president; on the other, many disagree with his positions and rhetoric.

Strategically, they can’t condemn Trump too harshly for fear of alienating his supporters. But they can’t come out too strongly in favor of him, either, which could drive away independent and moderate voters.

Case in point, the day after he talked to the GOP club, Hardy did an interview with the Spanish-language television station Univision. While he again expressed reservations about Trump’s rhetoric, calling it “frustrating,” he was less emphatic about his support for Trump, simply saying he could not support Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Asked about Hardy’s remarks, campaign manager Ross Hemminger said the congressman’s positions have been “clear and consistent,” such as on immigration, where he opposes “blanket amnesty but supports a path to legal status.”

“Additionally, Congressman Hardy has been clear on the presidential race: Although Congressman Hardy has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s tone and comments, he believes he is a better choice than Hillary Clinton,” Hemminger said.

“Fourth District voters deserve a congressman who is open and honest when he agrees with presidential candidates, but is equally open and honest when there is disagreement. We will match our record of doing that with our opponents record any day of the week,” Hemminger said.

Hardy and other House Republicans met with Trump in early July.

During the meeting, Hardy asked Trump what he would do to make sure he didn’t “detract from the opportunities” Republicans have of winning in Nevada, especially considering the diversity in the 4th Congressional District. Hardy noted that his opponent, Democratic state Sen. Ruben Kihuen, was using Trump’s comments about Hispanics as a wedge issue.

In response, Trump said he got along well with Hispanics and pointed to poll numbers that showed he was performing better with Hispanic voters than 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

After the meeting, Hardy told reporters he was satisfied with Trump’s answer. And in a statement, he told a Las Vegas television station he would “continue to be hopeful that we will see a change in tone and I will continue to voice my concerns when I have them.”

Recent polling shows Hardy and Kihuen neck-and-neck in their battle over the 4th Congressional District. Hardy held a slight edge, 38 percent to 36 percent, in a poll last month released by the National Republican Congressional Committee and taken by Harper Polling.

And though the district has a Democratic voter registration advantage, the poll showed likely voters had a more favorable view of Trump than of Clinton — 50 percent favorable to 38 percent. The poll showed Trump up by seven points in the district.