Liljenquist goes up with new ad against Hatch
(CNN) - The candidate challenging longtime Sen. Orrin Hatch in Utah's GOP primary issued his second ad on Friday, blasting Hatch for increased spending in Washington.
While former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist has been railing against Hatch in recent weeks for declining to take part in a televised debate, Liljenquist held back from raising the issue again in his latest commercial.
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"Sen. Hatch has repeatedly voted to raise his own pay. He's voted for bailouts," Liljenquist says in the 30-second spot, titled "Record."
He then goes on to make the case that if elected senator, he would "balance the budget, cut wasteful spending and eliminate pensions in Congress."
Liljenquist, an underdog attempting to take down a six-term senator, has stepped up his attack line on Hatch in recent weeks, urging the incumbent to agree to a televised debate. He released his first ad earlier this week and devoted the entire spot to trumpeting his debate challenge.
While Hatch has consented to a radio debate in June before the primary, he has cited scheduling issues as a reason for declining a TV showdown and points to two previous debates he took part in earlier this cycle.
But several newspapers in the state, as well as Liljenquist's campaign, have attempted to pressure Hatch into changing his mind.
"As Senator Hatch continues to hide from televised debates, it is clear we are going to have to debate his record for him," Liljenquist said in a statement promoting the ad.
But Hatch's campaign labels the debate push as a campaign gimmick and suggests the senator won't change his mind on the issue.
"Voters are concerned with the economy and the fiscal future or our country, not trivial campaign rhetoric," Hatch's communications director, Evelyn Call, said in a statement this week.
Hatch's campaign scored big points Tuesday when it landed a highly-coveted endorsement from Sarah Palin, who claimed Hatch was part of the "one percent" of national incumbents she thinks deserve re-election.
The nod came as a big swipe against Liljenquist, a candidate with strong tea party backing in the state.
Liljenquist's new ad will run statewide in rotation with his first ad until the June 26 primary, according to his campaign.
Hey, Senator! Stop acting like the over the hill politician that they are accusing of being. What's the matter? Are they right? Has the fire in your fight really gone out?
Get rid off all old "JUNK" and ask for senate/congress Term-Limits. Period.
PS: this is nation's #1 priority. God bless!!
Obama12.
I hope people throughout the country realize that to be further right of Hatch on issues means those positions are pretty extreme. This guy was no friend to the people of Utah while a legislator and would not be a friend in DC. Who'do thunk the day would come that Hatch would seem like a moderate. Now that's scary!
I'd rather have someone who can compromise with the other side than someone who will not work with the other party.
I love it how these candidates say that they are going to do these things. I would hope that the voters understand that the candidates can't do it alone. If he changed it to I will be working for these as goals, that would be better.
the repos cant be civil to one another. they call each other liers then make up when one gets elected. Vote all repos out. we have enough moromon nut jobs in office as it is.
Looks like the party of old men is trying for some younger ones. Love watching the GOP eat its own.
Republicans sure hate Government but they fight like H to get on taxpayer funded payroll and the sad part is that Americans buy into their rhetoric. That's what you call speaking with a "fork tongue".
The King of the Liberals is so scared by last election, he is already starting the name calling. Ha Ha Worst President Ever.
looks like arab spring has hit the US, in more ways than one..first Lugar, now Hatch, the $$ boys want a change, a sweeping change..don't count the chinese out yet..
Tweedle Dee vs Tweedle Dum. If the left one doesn't get you the right one will!
Dems and Reps, different pages from the same bad book!
"Sen. Hatch has repeatedly voted to raise his own pay."
TeaParty doublespeak ... Sen. Hatch has repeatedly voted to raise his own pay and I want what he's got.
It's time America woke up to the fact that all these Tea Party folks who rail against the government while seeking to BE the government probably can't think further than their own needs to begin with. The past two years have proved they certainly don't care about America. Oh, well. Eat your own, GOPers. It's your party.
Hey, Utah, do you really want to be represented by someone named Liljenquist? He sounds like a gansta' rapper.
If conservatives hate government so much, how come they fight tooth and nail to be in charge running it? How come when they do get put in charge, they always mangle the budgets? How come they always give their special interests tax breaks, while taking away from people who cannot afford lobbyists?
How come Republicans complain about over spending, but yet they are always the party that overspends and explodes deficits and debts? How come voters believe Republicans when they accuse Democrats of being the party of fiscal irresponsibility? Look at the facts. Republcans spend tax money on special interests like drunken sailors.
So, I just remember how Hatch referred to the efforts by mostly democratic Congress to eliminate Oil subsidies. And, Orrin was in support of extending them - and essentially mocked the efforts to do otherwise. i live in Utah and I won't vote for him. I also don't like his Ads nor his stance on Healthcare. He has random conf. calls with the public and I've listened to how hateful their party sounds. No way will I support this.
Correction - Orrin Hatch referred to the efforts as a Dog and Pony show.
I guess it doesn't really matter who wins because a Republican will win the Senate seat in the end. Getting the Do Nothing Senate out of the hands of the Democrats and worthless Harry Reid is the TOP priority after getting Romney in the Whitehouse. Pelosi is permanently sentenced to minority status after her Obamacare fiasco.
He then goes on to make the case that if elected senator, he would "balance the budget, cut wasteful spending and eliminate pensions in Congress."
Then he promised longer recess, less homework and TWO chocolate milks on Fridays!
I am really wondering why ½ Gov Palin did not endorse him; maybe he did not cough up enough cash.
The Rove wingnut/teabagger trainwreck implosion continues
The difference between Hatch and Liljenquist is the difference between a statesman and a politician. Orrin Hatch is a conservative. He just knows how to work with people who have different viewpoints to achieve what's best for the country and for his state. I hope the primary voters in Utah recognize what it means to their state to have a guy like Hatch representing them.