Republican Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz reacted to news that a leading national Tea Party-affiliated organization is targeting Sen. Orrin Hatch by saying Hatch has “been on the wrong side on a lot of major issues.”
In an interview with The Daily Caller, Chaffetz admitted he’s actively considering running against Hatch for the U.S. Senate next year but won’t make a decision for several more months.
“I’m going to continue to proceed with my decision making process and hope to make that decision after Labor Day,” he said Thursday.
Chaffetz predicted that “there’s going to be a lot of interest in the race.”
“I have great respect for Sen. Hatch, but I think he’s been on the wrong side on a lot of major issues.”
TheDC was the first to report that FreedomWorks PAC is launching a “Retire Orrin Hatch” campaign at the Utah Republican Convention this Saturday, the group’s first major move of the 2012 congressional cycle. (Congressional Republicans push to sell federal land)
An organizer for FreedomWorks, Russ Walker, said the organization has met “with several people” considering a run and they’re “confident we’re going to have a good candidate.” State Sen. Dan Liljenquist has also signaled he may get in the race.
“It’s a curious decision by FreedomWorks considering Orrin Hatch agrees that a limited government is essential to rebuilding our country,” said Dave Hansen, campaign manager for the Hatch campaign.
He added: “If FreedomWorks is anxious to spend their money, why not put it into defeating Barack Obama in the Presidential race?”
Hansen also said Hatch has a lifetime “90 percent conservative rating from the American Conservative Union, scores a 100 percent rating from Club for Growth in the last Congress, and received the highest ranking in Congress by the National Taxpayers Union.”