Amodei still refuses to back Flippo as rift between the two Republicans grows

Retiring Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) has no plans to endorse the Republican nominee in the race to replace him — and in fact, the rift between the two has continued to fester. 

Two months after small business owner David Flippo (R) defeated Amodei's preferred successor and friend in the GOP primary for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, the two still have not spoken. In an interview with Sam Shad on Nevada Newsmakers published on Wednesday, Amodei called Flippo "not my cup of tea" and said there was "no way" he was endorsing him.  

Amodei doubled down on his comments in a Thursday interview with The Nevada Independent. He doesn't think much of the Republican likely to replace him, though he previously said he would not endorse the Democrat. 

"Two cycles ago, I got a guy who couldn't get out of a Republican Assembly primary in Clark County," Amodei said, referring to Flippo. "Last cycle, couldn't get out of a Republican CD4 primary in Clark County, and then shows up and goes, 'I'm the answer for CD2 because it has historically been a Republican seat, and I love Donald Trump.' So it's like, 'OK, tell me about your deep love for the people you want to serve.'"

Flippo is set to face Democratic nominee Teresa Benitez-Thompson in November. A Democrat has never won the Northern Nevada seat, where active Republican voters outnumber Democrats by more than 70,000. But early Wednesday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added the seat to its list of "districts in play" — a sign of a potential blue wave.

According to his general consultant, Rory McShane, the retired lieutenant colonel has never requested Amodei's endorsement. But McShane said Flippo has called Amodei's personal number more than once to ask about transferring constituent casework. 

Speaking to The Nevada Independent on Thursday, Flippo also said that he had personally called and texted the congressman.

"We're looking to have a clean handoff that's friendly and cordial," he said. "Want to find out what casework he's got working on, what bills he's working on that may not be done in time. What are his priorities? … He's a wealth of knowledge. … I think that would be a mistake on my behalf if I wasn't trying to connect with him."

McShane was harsher. 

"It's a shame that Congressman Amodei is putting his political support and sour grapes over his preferred candidate not winning the primary [above meeting] with the likely incoming congressman to talk about transitioning casework," McShane told The Nevada Independent. "I would call that the definition of petty."

Amodei said his chief of staff received one text from Flippo's campaign manager, who he derisively referred to as "Junior Jetson," about arranging a coffee meeting to discuss a project in the district. 

McShane provided The Nevada Independent a screenshot of a text message sent on July 28 from Flippo to Amodei's personal phone number. The text mentioned the same project Amodei brought up and inquired about a coffee meeting to discuss bills and other initiatives. The screenshot also included earlier messages to Amodei, but no replies.

The congressman said Flippo never called him.

"I know who calls me and I know who doesn't, and most of the world doesn't, so it's not hard to keep track of who does," Amodei said.  

McShane said Flippo is eager to lay the groundwork to help constituents. 

"As a combat veteran, it's very important to David that veterans who are getting their medals or getting their disability, that those people continue to be taken care of, that farmers and ranchers who have issues with [Bureau of Land Management] — that their issues don't get dropped," he said. 

But Amodei said the timing of the ask was presumptuous.

"We're three months out from an election result, gentlemen," he said, emphasising the last word. "Why would I be talking to you about all this stuff three months before an election? … The need to talk about transferring anything to the next holder of CD2 three months before they count the votes is — and this seems to be a consistent theme — arrogant."

He was especially incensed upon hearing from Shad that the Flippo campaign would not make the candidate available for an interview before the midterms, but that his staff would happily go in his place. Amodei said he wanted to judge Flippo based off his own words, not "the manufactured communications by his Las Vegas consultants."

"Are you telling me that you're going to be telling this guy what to do?" the congressman asked. "That his name may be on the door, but you're the one who's calling the shots? That's not a message I'm going to support, just as a voter. … Those things I've just described to you strike me as fairly arrogant and incredibly, incredibly disrespectful to the people whose votes you want."

Asked if what Shad said was accurate and if Flippo would do interviews or debates before November, McShane told The Nevada Independent via text that they are doing interviews — just not with programs whose reporters encourage support for Flippo's opponent, a reference to a tweet from Shad's co-host, Ray Hagar. 

Flippo said he had not watched Amodei's interview with Shad, but had heard about his comments suggesting they had nothing to sit and talk about. 

"I think we do have a reason to sit, and I think that we need to have that conversation," Flippo said. 

When Shad asked how Amodei planned to vote in the race, the congressman pointed out that a third-party candidate is also running. 

"I'll look at stuff," he later told The Nevada Independent. "But when I get more lies about outreach to this campaign, two texts which haven't been responded to, which act like, 'We're trying to set up the office,' well, listen, that's your prerogative, but arrogance is not one of the things that I look for in terms of support." 

As for his role on the national stage, Amodei said he had no interest in flexing his power vis a vis Trump. In five months, he said he'll be back home in Carson City doing yardwork. He reiterated that he's no Republican in Name Only. 

"My Trump voting record is like 98," Amodei said. "If he ups it 2 points to 100, then congratulations — if he's elected. But … this is the only seat in all 535 House and Senate that is solely responsible for Northern Nevada. That's the reason this seat gets up in the morning. … Tell me what your plan is for taking on that responsibility."

About an hour later, the congressman called The Nevada Independent again. 

"They should be concentrating on how to get their guy elected, not worrying about what old 68-year-old retiring Amodei's doing, talking smack," he added. "I'm not running around worried about these two geniuses and their brand new Northern Nevadan … I'm finishing out my term strong."