Politico reports that the group has spent so much time and effort against Hatch, they've virtually ignored incumbent Senate Democrats this election cycle.
FEC reports show Freedom works spent $615,000 to defeat Hatch while only spending $1,700 against Democrats in the U.S. Senate and another $175,000 attacking Barack Obama. They've also spent nearly $300,000 supporting GOP Senate candidates in other races.
For FreedomWorks — which has been most active in Utah — it’s a matter of principle in taking down Hatch, and officials say the conservative state will elect a Republican no matter what.
“There is no reason why Orrin Hatch should represent Utah,” said Russ Walker, vice president of political and grassroots campaigns for the group. “Utah is far more conservative than Orrin Hatch.”
Walker said that once this primary battle passes, “time will come” when the group turns its attention to the general election and will begin dumping resources to take down incumbent Democrats like Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Montana Sen. Jon Tester, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.
But Hatch and his allies say it makes little sense spending money to take down a conservative senator when so much is on the line this election year.
Things have gotten personal between Hatch and the group, whose chairman, former Texas Rep. Dick Armey, didn’t return four of the senior senator’s phone calls last year when he wanted Armey to testify at a Senate Finance Committee hearing.
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