Wanna know how worried Sen. Orrin Hatch is about a possible primary challenge from the Right in 2012? Just look at his actions regarding the omnibus spending bill.
Hatch has pulled all of his earmarks out of the omnibus spending bill, and will most likely vote against the measure? Why? The obvious answer is this statement from the Club for Growth and President Chris Chocola.
“Any congressional Republican who supports the Democratic leadership’s porked-up monstrosity would forfeit any claim to fiscal responsibility and economic conservatism. Every Republican aye vote will likely face a serious primary challenge from the right in their next re-election campaign, and should.”
The Washington Examiner says Hatch and Indiana Senator Dick Lugar are the most likely to get a Tea Party challenger in 2012.
Strike one against Hatch: He's a porker. Strike two is his history of courting Democrats and partnering with the likes of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Strike three is simply how long he's been in D.C. Media accounts regularly describe Hatch (like Lugar) as "an institution." This is not a good time to be "an institution."
And then there’s this. Club Vice President Andy Roth tells The Examiner:
"Let's just say they're under the microscope. We are keenly aware of Hatch and Lugar's past voting record and we plan to track every vote they take in the foreseeable future."

