http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/07/hatch-vs-chaffetz-looks-to-be-a-brutal-battle.html
Hatch vs. Chaffetz Looks to Be a Brutal Battle
July 29, 2011 6:00 AM
ABC News’ Shushannah Walshe (@shushwalshe) reports:
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah has done everything he can to escape the fate of Republicans who lost primaries to the Tea Party in 2010. Despite working on improving his relationship with Tea Party and fiscal conservative groups in the past year, the alarm has been sounded and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, appears to be making steps toward an announcement sometime after Labor Day.
“If it was just about taking the path of least resistance, I would just stay in the House,” Chaffetz told ABC News. “But that’s not necessarily where I am headed. I don’t know. I haven’t made a final decision, but I’m trying to be as candid as I can, saying I moved from being a definite maybe to probably.”
For an unannounced candidate, he has absolutely no hesitation taking on his potential intraparty rival. If or when Chaffetz gets in, it’s sure to be one of the most contentious primary fights in Congress.
“I don’t know that 42 contiguous years in the bubble in the U.S. Senate is healthy for anyone,” Chaffetz said. “I think people are ready for a change. And second to that is I just disagree with him on a lot of very important issues.
“Part of the reason we are in this debt crisis is because 26 times Sen. Hatch had an opportunity to vote no and he voted yes to raise the debt ceiling,” he added. “Sixteen times a direct vote for yes, and 10 times allowed unanimous consent for an increase in the debt ceiling. That’s why, in part, we are in this mess.”
(snip)
Mr. Chaffetz is throwing away his House career on a reckless unproved gamble that the UT voters are open-minded.