Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Mitt Romney have at least one thing in common: they’re both trying hard to convince the tea party they’re not dangerous RINOs.
And now they’re fighting that fight together. Romney endorsed Hatch for reelection today, pitting Romney against those in the tea party movement who are eager to end Hatch’s Senate career next year the same way they ended that of former Sen. Bob Bennett‘s (R-UT) in 2010.
From Hatch’s announcement of the endorsement, published in the Deseret News:
“Orrin is a committed public servant who always puts the people of Utah first,” Romney said in a statement released by the senator’s campaign. “I couldn’t be prouder to endorse him in his re-election bid.”
As the paper points out, Romney’s backing of Bennett last year didn’t do much to save that Senator’s career.
But Hatch’s lot is different than Bennett’s. The tea party isn’t united in hating on him — the Tea Party Express’ Sal Russo is on board with Hatch’s reelection plans, for example. FreedomWorks vehemently disagrees, and has made Hatch a target for defeat.
FreedomWorks also detests Romney, another tie that binds him to Hatch.
