(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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"part of the one percent of national politicians who I think should be reelected."...re-elected to what? Does she want to be Governor of Alaska again? Quitting once should be enough.
Palin cites his opposition to the health care initiative..Oren submitted his own health care bill during the Bush administration that was nearly identical to the one now in place.
I don't know this for a fact but I suspect Palin has built a business where by she gets paid for endorsements. I think that's where we've gotten.
Why don't you ask whom Limbaugh, Beck, or Hannity is endorsing? They are also conservative commentators ... Which is all Palin is, and as such carries about as much weight. Meaning, very little.
She must need a couple more millions from her sheep.
Perhaps CNN didn't get the Memo or see Game Change or listen to the spoken interviews from Sarah Palin's top two 2008 Presidential and VP candidate advisors. Steve Schmidt admitted to the world as did Bush’s former advisor that Sarah Palin was so unqualified to be VP that they could not even vote for her. They said picking Palin was the biggest mistake McCain made due to her complete ignorance about basic political facts and inability to grasp complex geo-political issues.
CNN, please stop reporting anything that Palin ever says. She is not qualified to speak about anything except hunting wolves from helicopters. They should give her a cameo role in the Liam Nissan move "The Grey Part II" and have her get eaten alive.
By "one per cent," I assume the "steamed" ex-gov means he's one of the richest in America who just happens to be running for re-election!
Its NEVER going away !!! You happy now McCain ???
Kiss of death for Hatch. I wish this woman would crawl back into the hole she crawled out of.
who cares what this woman has to say? go blonde and get lost.
Gee, look maw . . . .! It's that crusty old Republican who looks like he nearing the end of his wrinkled, wasted, hateful towards the middle-class life. When is his funeral maw? Huh/? Can we go to his funeral? Does he have any real friends? Did he ever actually help a needy unemployed family or care whether they had food on the table? Huh, did he maw? Did he?
Yay!! More comedy from CNN. Next, in another completely meaningless "news" story, they will divulge the endorsement of her hubby Todd! Can't wait!!!
She is either: a) trying to confuse the issue by saying he is tea party, therefore trying to confuse the tea party b) slip in the comment on the 1 percent so that the tea party will start using it against Hatch and she claim she didn't know where they got that idea c) Do a and b to get Hatch's opponent elected while she pretended to support Hatch so people would vote the other way ... or d) she's totally clueless. Ummmm... I pick d.
Drivel endorsing drivel. What a nice match.
He'a a 1%er alright . . .
Palin needs to go and take care of her children first. For all her pro-life talk, she stay home to prevent her other daughter from getting pregnant too. She's just a power hungry politician.
Endorsing another politician that should have retired long ago.
endorsements are two for a penny, nowadays, what clout does palin have, none
These articles are comical. That's why I love reading them. Anytime Sarah Palin and her words are mentioned, AS IF THEY ARE CREDITABLE, that is pure comedy....I also like to see folks who defend her just because...There is NO WAY in any sane person's mind that Palin can be conceived as being well versed or knowledgeable on the real issues facing our nation. Just listen to her ramble, or TV, print, radio, whatever. The proof is in the pudding.
What's good for the politicians is what they do.
Is she back again????????????????????????
Vote all incumbents out and send Palin back to Alaska where she belongs. We and the American people should not be re-electing anyone that is currently serving in the congress or senate, these guys are the biggest crooks in America next to the corporate Yayhoos.
Time to put the crosshairs back on the map and be sure to put one of those crosshairs on Palin's house.
Vote em OUT!!!
The hills are younger than Hatch….He should really go....he never cared much for working folks.
So many Americans and the lame stream media mock this woman, this savior; Sarah Palin.
But in November, she will be the last one laughing when she wins the Presidency...
...of Candyland.
Palin/Caucasian Blond-Haired Jesus 2012
@Steve: "Palin cites his opposition to the health care initiative..Oren submitted his own health care bill during the Bush administration that was nearly identical to the one now in place.
I don't know this for a fact but I suspect Palin has built a business where by she gets paid for endorsements. I think that's where we've gotten."
You took the words right out of my mouth. Typical Quitta, doesn't know her facts, except that she can sell her endorsements for a pretty penny. What's that term again for women who sell themselves ....?
And Who is Palin?
Kiss of death.