Friday, December 30, 2005

Hatch's "Rocky Road"

In today's Deseret News, Columnist Bob Bernick makes his predictions for 2006 in Utah politics, including a "rocky road" for Orrin Hatch:

Sen. Orrin Hatch is seeking a record-setting 36 years in the U.S. Senate. Everyone is predicting a Hatch re-election. But I think it will be a rocky road for the senior senator.
Hatch has had what fellow-U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett calls some "senior moments" over the past year.
Hatch clearly forgot the names of U.S. representatives (and fellow Republicans) Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop during a speech at the GOP state convention in August, even though both men were sitting on the stage behind him.
He confused Vietnam with Iraq in a public statement — a mistake that Hatch's staff had to correct later.
Hatch has reportedly had some angry moments with members of his staff, as well.
As of now, Hatch does not have a serious challenge from within his own party, state Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, getting in and out of that challenge this summer.
But before Hatch's re-election run is over in November, expect to see a serious campaign by millionaire Democrat Pete Ashdown, and the question of Hatch's mental acuteness explored in the campaign.


Other predictions:

~Chris Cannon will face a tough Primary battle
~Taxpayers will get big tax cuts.

-Bob

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