Orrin Hatch Backed By Mitt Romney In Radio Ad

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is appearing in a radio ad supporting Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that launched Friday.

"We need strong leadership in Congress to help fix the economy," says Romney. "Sen. Orrin Hatch will lead the powerful Finance Committee, which will be critical to lowering taxes, balancing the budget and repealing the federal government takeover of health care." Hatch is next in line to be Senate Finance Committee chairman should Republicans retake the Senate.

The ad is part of an effort by Hatch to secure delegates at the state party's caucuses on March 15th. To be on the primary ballot, Hatch must finish first or second in a vote of convention delegates and hold the first-place finisher to less than 60 percent of the vote.

Former Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) finished third in the 2010 caucuses, ending his political career. Hatch's campaign has been working to avoid the same fate.

"This is Mitt Romney. On March 15th, please attend your caucuses to keep Orrin fighting for Utah" closes the former Massachusetts governor, who endorsed Hatch in September.

Comments

[emiliob6]

04:16 AM on 03/05/2012

Orrin Hatch is not extreme enough, the last of the mohicans...

[RLaitres]

04:00 PM on 03/03/2012

Now, what is surprising about this as they both believe the same thing. And, to quote Orin Hatch himself, it is the "The poor should do more", pretty much what Romney believes as well. Of course, given the thinking (or rather "believing") of the Tea Party contingent, that the "haves" should not be putting anything in, some of us can see how Hatch could be in trouble. Gee! It must be Satan, at work in Utah.

[wlcd]

12:12 PM on 03/03/2012

If Senator Hatch has problem in being re-elected in Utah it's a fair indication of how far right the GOP is tilting.

[emiliob6]

04:13 AM on 03/05/2012

The GOP has been trying so hard to bring Obama down, they no longer no if their coming or going, they are so confuse that they will vote against their own ideas if Obama agrees with them, Obama should use reverse psychology on them.

[stape45]

11:28 AM on 03/03/2012

Yet another reason to chant: OBAMA 2012!

[structurequity]

11:24 AM on 03/03/2012

Down the hatch

[Easy123]

11:08 AM on 03/03/2012

This is a non story to me Utah is the center of the Mormon world. They will endorse each other and if Seamus's daddy gets the nomination Utah will go to him. Too much religion regardless of which special friend in the sky you believe in is more a danger than anything else. Just sayin'

[Dileas]

11:07 AM on 03/03/2012

An endorsement from Willard is a POSITIVE?? Ah well... check back next week when he recants.

[JoanMeijer]

10:48 AM on 03/03/2012

A big endorsement from a Presidential contender.... really unless it's Obama it's not a big endorsement....

[ShamusNYC]

10:42 AM on 03/03/2012

"I like Senator Hatch. His suit is the right color. He stands at the right height"

[StarGazr5992]

10:31 AM on 03/03/2012

It's time for the simple minded republicans to go back home..they are not longer retentive to the congress any longer

[jem6695]

08:36 AM on 03/03/2012

Its time to RETIRE!

[Scvoter1]

08:35 AM on 03/03/2012

That Romney, is a Mormon High Priest, who endorses someone running in a predominately Mormon state.

Is this a step toward combining church and state, or should we overlook it to our own peril in the future?

[RLaitres]

04:05 PM on 03/03/2012

Church and State were combined in Utah at its very founding and it has never been able to move beyond what we call "that primitive stage", something which even the Puritans of early Massachusets did in less time.

[jwmmjjj]

08:29 AM on 03/03/2012

Well, Orin, it's time to pay the piper. You were one of the most respected members of the Senate until you started embrcing the crazies on the extreme right. Now it's time for you to exit.

[lindaforobama]

07:16 AM on 03/03/2012

TIme for this man to go - he is always stirring up trouble. I don't care who endorses him - he is going down!

[92102]

04:23 AM on 03/03/2012

Is there a Tea Party kook running to his right? That Lee guy is bad enough.