Disappointment: Sarah Palin endorses entrenched incumbent GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch

In an interview with Greta Van Susteren on Fox News tonight, Sarah Palin offered an endorsement to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in his re-election bid.

Hatch, a six-term senator with a big-government voting record and nearly four decades of costly progressive partnerships with the likes of Ted Kennedy and his old pal Arlen Specter, has been closely watched in this election cycle given that he is currently fighting his first contested primary against state legislator, acclaimed pension reformer, and former Bain businessman Dan Liljenquist.

Is this a nail in the coffin of Sarah Palin’s conservative credibility or just another endorsement for conservatives to fight about and then forget tomorrow?

Twitter reaction:

https://twitter.com/#!/red_red_head/status/205118837459394562

https://twitter.com/#!/BrainLemon/status/205118409871069185

https://twitter.com/#!/CorieWhalen/status/205120077362757632

https://twitter.com/#!/ChadKentSpeaks/status/205120069016096768

https://twitter.com/#!/michaelpleahy/status/205119536423378944

https://twitter.com/#!/MaroonedInMarin/status/205120025953173506

https://twitter.com/#!/Afterseven/status/205119817647263744

https://twitter.com/#!/Tracyannie/status/205119728249880576

https://twitter.com/#!/ThePantau/status/205119400997699587

https://twitter.com/#!/SteveBayrd/status/205122295386222595

https://twitter.com/#!/jimccarson/status/205121630333190145

What’s most puzzling, of course, is that Palin has endorsed several other anti-establishment Tea Party favorites in GOP Senate primaries across the country, including Richard Mourdock in Indiana, Ted Cruz in Texas, and Deb Fischer in Nebraska.

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It’s even more eyebrow-raising given that Palin made the endorsement on Greta Van Susteren’s show. Van Susteren’s husband has been a significant donor to Hatch over the years.

Yeah. It’s a head-scratcher. But instead of worrying about Palin, grass-roots conservatives looking to boot another old entrenched incumbent will need to redouble their efforts.

Go here for Liljenquist’s campaign website and donation page.