State Sen. Harri Anne Smith picked up an endorsement in her bid for a U.S. House seat from a prominent Alabama conservative advocate Wednesday.

John Giles, former president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama, threw his support behind Smith at a press conference at her Dothan campaign headquarters. Giles said he supported Smith based on her commitment to low taxes and conservative family values.

“I think what I love the most about Harri Anne Smith is that she’s going to do what’s the right principle and to heck with the political consequences,” he said.

Giles’ endorsement comes less than a month after Smith backed away from a bill she introduced that would have tightened regulations on charitable bingo in Houston County and would have defined bingo as a game played only on paper cards. If passed, the bill could have possibly unravelled the proposed Country Crossing development.

Commenters in various online political discussion forums have interpreted Smith’s introduction of the bill and subsequent withdrawal of support in the face of public opposition as a serious misstep and damaging to her campaign to replace retiring Alabama 2nd District U.S. Congressman Terry Everett.

Bingo didn’t come up at Wednesday’s press conference, however. Giles said he based his support for Smith on her qualifications, electability and experience.

“She’s a sweet lady, she’s a nice lady, but let me tell you, she’s tough,” he said.
In addition to Giles’ endorsement, Smith also recently got the nod from the Club for Growth, a political action committee that supports candidates committed to low taxes and small government.