Just a quick diary to let everyone know that Orrin Hatch will make a formal announcement that he will retire from the Senate at the end of his term. link
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the longest-serving GOP senator in U.S. history, announced Tuesday that he'll retire at the end of his term.
This retirement is a blow to the current *resident, who enjoyed Hatch’s recent over-the-top praise, and lobbied for him to stay for one more term.
The spotlight now shifts to Mitt Romney, who has been reportedly eyeing a Senate bid only if Hatch retired. The 2012 GOP presidential nominee is expected to be able to clear the field since he remains highly popular in Utah. Romney, a Mormon, has strong ties to the state and helped lead the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
Trump and some of his allies, including former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon, were reportedly looking to block the former Massachusetts governor from running by encouraging Hatch to stay in the seat.
Who ever thought we’d come to the day that we’d be relieved—even eager--to welcome Mr. Car Elevator himself, Mitt Romney?