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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Palin would fall back into irrelevancy if she would just be ignored. It's nothing of her doing that she's still in the spotlight, but media keeps reporting on her – manufacturing 'news'. Why isn't anyone talking about the fact that she's using a political action committee as her own personal piggy bank? and nothing to do with politics or an election?
How many voters can Sarah Palin really influence? Are we as Americans still using her as our consultant when we are making up,our minds?
Warren Hatch IS one of the few good guys that have been there for a while. Bu thte winds of change are blowing... 2012 will decide if we continue full tilt down the road to bankrupt socialism of pull the country back onto the successful path to properity.
That's enough to know I wouldn't vote for him. Palin is like a plague!!
She overestimates her relevance to the situation......she thinks her input is important only because she can see Utah from her mountaintop throne.
Begs the question. Just WHAT/WHO is the Tea Party now? Beyond Fox/Armey/Koch/Sarah.
And, why can't we focus on facts, rather than stir up silly "socialism" soup? Words dissociated from reality. Hate is ugly.
The Republican Party has moved so far to the extreme right, Sen.Hatch is now considered a liberal by his own party.
Sarah Palin, the New Voice of Reason for the repug party.
Another career politician wanting to be re-elected AGAIN. Good grief. The only positive thing is a lot of them will reach across the aisle and compromise which newer members of Congress won't do. Sadly here in the US, people like Palin are paid thousands of dollars for making speeches while others can't pay the rent and feed the kids.
"Just look what happens with a Palin endorsement – Hatch has sprouted a halo with rays! Wow!"
WOW, Brit, I can see it too!
Saint Sarah has been on that private line to God she has, and voiced "His will" and He has now anointed Orrin!
Now, if she can find the face of Jesus in a grilled cheese sandwich, I will convert to a Sarah sheeple!
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah........come to earth please. You still think what you say matters? Get a real job.
She is a has been and no one in their right mind would vote for someone that she endorses! I did say "right mind."
A Palin endorsement: The death-nell for the Hatch campaign.
Time is past for him to go anyway.
Sorry Orrin-
You've been handed the kiss of death . . .
I love it! It's Orrin's KISS OF DEATH!!!!!!
The Kiss of Death!
She's basing her endorsement on the fact that the guy opposes Obama, rather than his historical voting record since 1976?
What happened to voting for incumbent politicians based on what they've accomplished, instead of based on what they're against?
Like Palin will help Hatch get reelected. Not. This is probably reverse psychology – anyone whom Palin endorses is someone I probably don't agree with. Palin is a simpleton. And she is irrelevant to most Americans.
When will this woman realize she means nothing anymore (if she ever did).
CNN, PLEASE stop covering her. No one cares. The Today Show even lost its #1 ranking after 16 years when she co-hosted. Nobody cares about this woman.
Having Sarah Palin endorse you is akin to having Kim Kardashian endorse you!
I am holding out for the endorsement from OctoMom! Then we know we got a great candidate!!!!
Another SNL skit?
Another day, another endorsement by Palin. This is what she does to get her name in the news. It is unfortunate for the people she endorses!
who cares? she's a nobody.
He is sure to lose now! Palin is like the kiss of death!
Great... It's the equivalent of having the Pope endorse a condom! Someone pushing something they know virtually nothing about... :-\