Palin endorses Utah's Hatch in Senate race
(CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has weighed into another race for the U.S. Senate, this time endorsing the incumbent seeking reelection to the Utah seat he has held since 1976.
Palin announced her backing for Orrin Hatch in a post to her website Tuesday evening, calling him "part of the one percent of national politicians who I think should be reelected."
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Her endorsement comes almost precisely a month after Hatch came within several dozen votes of avoiding a primary contest in his bid for a seventh term in the Senate.
Hatch is known for reaching across the aisle on occasion, though in her endorsement, Palin touted his opposition against the health care reform led by President Barack Obama, as well as opposition to Obama's nominees for the Supreme Court.
"We know he will use his seniority and influence to dissuade politicians from continuing to raise the debt ceiling without any plan to balance the budget and end these dangerously unsustainable deficits," she wrote. "And unlike some others, Orrin has gone out of his way to embrace the Tea Party movement."
Palin made her case for Hatch in a television appearance last August, saying his support for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution means "we need to be agreeing and embracing his idea and working with him to make sure that happens, instead of shooing him away and out of the Tea Party movement."
Former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist will face Hatch in a June 26 primary, and in his first television advertisement, suggested the incumbent was being hypocritical to turn down televised debates, which Hatch had called for in his 1976 bid. One of Liljenquist's supporters has said he will protest Hatch's decision to only debate once, and on radio, by holding a personal hunger strike.
National groups and figures have weighed in on the race, including GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who endorsed Hatch.
Palin's prior 2012 endorsements have included the backing of Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, who this month defeated incumbent Richard Lugar - who, like Hatch, started in the Senate in 1976.
- CNN's Mark Preston, Ashley Killough, and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report
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She's just another Fox News fearmonger. If Republicans want to know what went wrong with their Party – just look at Orin Hatch not being far enough towards the right-wing. About all they have left on the right-wing is Hitler – and he believed in socialized medicine.
Oh, a mentino of Palin, dope addicts and welfare frauds attack!!!!! Oh I see you already have.
I'd really seek the endorsement of SP... a failed politician and successful public buffoon.
the kiss of death..."I know it was you Fredo. I KNOW IT WAS YOU"
The Republicans have almost completed their assimilation into the Grand Old Tea Party. Knocking off Hatch and a Scott Walker victory in the WI recall election will commit Republicans to space flight, as the saying used to go at NASA. They will be out there, way out there on the extreme right wing. No one would have believed four years ago that Sen. Hatch would be targeted for being run out of office by his own party for being too moderate. ???
Sorry, CNN. You've lost me with this newest onslaught of "what Sarah Palin thinks" coverage.
There is only so much of her "bait" and "hate" that a person can take, and I've had enough.
wgf
– calling him "part of the one percent of national politicians who I think should be reelected." –
She doesn't seem to have a very high opinion of her Republican colleagues
Very good point!
Palin who...really, are we still entertaining this wack-nut? I love how she is arguing that Obama was never properly vetted...oh the irony, I guess she's an expert on that topic.
so much for her support of term limits
Nothimg against Senator Hatcher, but he's be at it too long. He needs to retire and enjoy life.
I like how Palin refers to him as part of the "1%" who should be re-elected. Was it conscious on her part to connect Hatch with the super-rich who rule and ruin this country? Or was it another Palin slip-of-the-tongue?
As she endorses Hatch, a halo suddenly appeared above his head (see picture above).
She is surely GOD.
/sarcasm off
Being endorsed by the Quitter Queen is going to cost Hatch the election unless he can convince the moderate majority that he does not tolerate her extremely divisive ideals. The vast majority of Alaskans, like myself, know her for what she really is, not what she portrays in the media, and we would vote against anyone she endorses. It's time the media does what it should have done after she cost John McCain the 2008 election, ignore her. Her fifteen minutes of fame was up years ago.
Added WHAT WEIGHT she doesn't weigh much!... her endorsement is NOTHING to BRAG about!
... and the world collectively didnt care.
Orin, you have been there since 1976? WOW , Go home, drink a nice 12 year old scotch, enjoy your great great, great grand kids, in other LEAVE. Time for new blood in the Capitol and I frankly don't care which party as long as they accomplish something. If they can't, fire them. Make a law about that.
I hate to spoil the party but I am not endorsing Hatch. I have never seen his birth certificate.
I wonder who thought out that position for her, or did it just come down from the FOX board of directors.
Oh well, Orin Hatch you just got the endorsement from hell. 75% of those endorsed by Palin lose the election. Ask Newt Gingrich.
Hatch will lose for sure, with this endorsement! If I were him I'd disavow this woman's opinion...might make him more friends.
This guy will surely lose now. An endorsement from Palin is like a death sentence.
I guess Palin's new job is to pick candidates she wants to win and of course slam the president on EVERYTHING he says or does even if she has no idea what the subject matter may be. Even though she and Karl Rove aren't getting along very well lately not a bad job for a few million bucks.
So what does she hold any office? does she have any value? Her endorsement is the same as anyone in this forum WORTHLESS.
CNN....you may well be the last collection of individuals left who actually have interest in anything this creep has to say.
laughs..agree....Now the public knows who NOT to vote for. Palin stands for all that is wrong. No intelligence, greed and a bully on top of it.