Orrin Hatch: I’ll Support Romney ‘If Mitt Decides To Run’

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, speaks to reporters following a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017.  (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, speaks to reporters following a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who will retire from the Senate when his current term ends in 2018, said Wednesday that he would support Mitt Romney to take his place should Romney decide to run.

“I did call him a while back and explored with him what he had on his mind,” Hatch said on Utah Morning News, CNN reported. He added: “I’m hopeful he’ll run, because he would be just fine, and he would certainly be somebody who I think could succeed me and do a good job.”

“We haven’t spoken in the last few days, but if Mitt decides to run, he knows he’ll have my support, but that will be his announcement to make, not mine,” Hatch said.

Hatch, 83, is the longest-serving Republican senator in history. Romney, despite serving as Massachusetts’ governor for four years, has hinted that he might be interested in the Utah Senate seat.

On Tuesday, for example, Romney changed the location of his Twitter profile to Holladay, Utah — where he built a mansion after his 2012 loss to Barack Obama — from Massachusetts. CNN noted he was already registered to vote in the state.

Latest Livewire
17
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Nobody’s told Orrin he forgot to do up his fly …

    for 30 years –

  2. Well DUH!

    Romney is a high-ranking member of the Mormon Church, Very Wealthy, heavily connected politically, and in Trump-time he seems like a rational, safe, choice, especially in Utah, which never really warmed to Trump (his “47%” remark, which was outrageous at the time just seems “quaint” now.)
    Hatch would HAVE to support him if he runs (and I believe he will.)

  3. Senator Romney will be just as much of a mendacious empty suit as Senator Hatch.

    Also, he’ll be the junior senator to Mike fucking Lee. Good grief.

  4. Orrin “The Ossified Sphincter” Hatch supports Mitt “Bob, The Sub-Genius” Romney.
    An if he wins, Utah gets to stay in the 15th Century another 6 years. Go, team!

  5. Avatar for lestat lestat says:

    That should gain Mitt the votes of people born before 1823, who harbor views common in 1323. It will cost Mitt the votes of sentient beings in Utah. I call it a wash.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

11 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for liberal Avatar for drriddle Avatar for joelopines Avatar for geofu54 Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for benthere Avatar for zlohcuc Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for lestat Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for coprophagoussmile

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: