UT-Sen: Hatch misses 60 by a whisker

[smoltchanov]

Liljenquist seems like he has a pretty distinguished record - "Legislator of the Year" for his work on entitlement reform. And apparently he got badly injured in a humanitarian mission plane crash, so that's some super hero cred there.   Some kind of problem with (accidently ?) not paying his taxes, but that's recoverable.  Is it possible he'll have enough appeal to gain support and win the primary?

Unlikely. If Hatch was able to get almost 60% in activist-dominated and ultra-right politically Republican convention, then it's more then likely that he will get even more at more "normal" primary.

[smoltchanov]

Actually, compared to 2010, this years GOP convention was a lot more moderate, and many of the delegates considered themselves as "moderate" (still ultraconservative, but not nearly as much as 2010's version). Even the number of voters/delegates that considered themselves "Tea Partiers" have decreased.

Heck, Bob Bennett himself came to the convention, and apparently (I wasn't there) he was cheered profusely, with the crowds demanding he give a speech. This is only two years after he was thrown out of office.

Still, there's enough people angry at Hatch to give him a run for his (considerable) money. FreedomWorks really wants to take Hatch out. I'm just looking forward to Hatch and Liljenquist tearing each apart in the primary; like I said, there might be a chance for the Democrat to win this year. Not a good chance, but a small chance.

VERY interesting. Thanks!!!