Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is attempting to win his seventh U.S. Senate term but first he must get through his state party’s nominating convention today. If Hatch receives 60 percent or more of the delegates’ votes, he automatically receives the GOP nomination. If he fails to do so, the race will go to a primary where the top two vote-getters at today’s convention — probably Hatch and his top challenger, State Sen. Dan Liljenquist — will square off.
Many tea party activists and movement conservatives, including Twitchy founder Michelle Malkin and FreedomWorks, oppose Hatch. Last August, Malkin wrote:
Orrin Hatch is … is a mascot for big-spending Beltway entrenched incumbency who has consistently joined hands with destructive Democrats.
He slobbered over corruptocrat Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd.
He co-sponsored the $6 billion national service boondoggle and dedicated it to his good friend Teddy Kennedy, with whom he also joined hands to create the ever-expanding SCHIP entitlement.
He supported tax cheat Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner from day one, lavished praise on Joe Biden’s balls, and embraced and defended Attorney General Eric Holder’s nomination because, he said, “I like Barack Obama and I want to help him if I can.”
He was an original sponsor of the open-borders DREAM Act illegal alien student bailout and voted for the massive TARP bailout.
Last summer, Hatch described himself as a “tea party person” but lately he has been singing a different tune.
On Twitter, Liljenquist is a clear favorite over Hatch:
https://twitter.com/#!/mwbowler/status/193498283052765184
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https://twitter.com/#!/KeepUtahReal/status/193408190631772160
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https://twitter.com/#!/JNealLawson/status/192273758508171264
https://twitter.com/#!/plaidspolitics/status/193156486636122112
I hope the GR8 people of Utah vote out Senator Hatch. Time 4 him 2 get the boot. We need REAL CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVES!
— Patriotancestry⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Patriotancestry) April 21, 2012
https://twitter.com/#!/Jeremycrow4life/status/193006974303088640
As the Washington Post reports, Hatch was able to stack today’s convention with supporters. As a result, he has a decent chance of reaching the 60 percent threshold.
https://twitter.com/#!/Duncan365/statuses/193757488099753984
https://twitter.com/#!/RobertGehrke/statuses/193755889981865985
https://twitter.com/#!/RobertGehrke/statuses/193756116537184259
https://twitter.com/#!/RobertGehrke/statuses/193756927459737600
https://twitter.com/#!/rjvanbib/status/193758225580044288
https://twitter.com/#!/bstein80/status/193746639981252611
https://twitter.com/#!/maxroth/status/193757821744066561
https://twitter.com/#!/UTJolley/status/193742519023058944
https://twitter.com/#!/Duncan365/statuses/193763356937695234
Update: Hatch failed to win the 60% needed to secure the nomination today. He is headed for a primary against State Sen. Dan Liljenquist.
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