CLEVELAND — Sen. Jeff Flake, one of the prominent Republicans who stayed home from the party’s convention, said he’s still watching at home in Arizona and said Tuesday that strident speeches and barbs against Hillary Clinton are hurting the GOP.

Mr. Flake, in an interview with KFYI radio, said delegates at the convention who chanted for Mrs. Clinton to be sent to prison, and speakers from the dais who agreed, are chasing swing voters away from the party.

“Watching the convention last night, and I did watch a lot of it, it was concerning that so much of the talk may play well for the audience there, but you have to remember, you have a broader audience out there,” Mr. Flake said.

He’s been one of the more prominent voices criticizing the messaging from Mr. Trump and his campaign, and had said he would stay home and mow his lawn instead of attending the convention. He joked Tuesday that the lawn still needs work.

Mr. Flake said Melania Trump’s speech was one of the better ones because “it was inclusive, it was intended to reach a broader audience,” but he said those who attacked Mrs. Clinton — such as retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, who said the former State Department secretary should be in prison, struck the wrong note.

“That is beyond the pale. That does not expand our base,” he said.

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