Sen. Orrin Hatch is remaining modest after surviving Saturday's GOP state convention, but he is still confident he will best challenger Dan Liljenquist in the June primary.

In an interview with Roll Call, Hatch declined to gloat about getting the most votes at convention - instead remaining cautious.

 

“We were very pleased. A couple months ago people were saying I couldn’t come out of the convention,” Hatch said, absent any of the emotion that his optimistic comments suggest.

Asked whether he agrees with prognosticators who view the Senator as an overwhelming favorite in the statewide June 26 primary given his warm relationship with the broader Republican electorate and a vast financial advantage over his challenger, former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist, Hatch was equally short.

“We’re going to win, and it isn’t going to be because of money,” the six-term Senator deadpanned. “It isn’t going to be because of money, it’s going to be because of a number of factors.”

When asked if he was going to endorse either Hatch or Liljenquist, Sen. Mike Lee tells Roll Call he will stay out of the race until the GOP has a nominee.