NRA endorses Newhouse for Congress despite opponent’s gun-rights focus

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — In a somewhat surprising move, The National Rifle Association has endorsed Republican Dan Newhouse for central Washington’s U.S. House seat. The other candidate, fellow Republican Clint Didier, has made support for gun rights a central theme of his campaign. Both candidates are seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, who is retiring. Newhouse, a mainstream Republican, says he is pleased to receive Wednesday’s endorsement from the NRA, which is the nation’s pre-eminent gun group. Didier, from the tea party branch of the GOP, has attempted to attack Newhouse for not making the issue of gun rights a higher priority in his campaign. Didier raffled off three firearms during the primary to promote his support of the Second Amendment. Didier earlier received the endorsement of the National Association for Gun Rights.