Orrin G. Hatch

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Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah got a boost in his bid for a seventh term from Sarah Palin, who endorsed the "lifelong conservative" in her SarahPac blog. (Associated Press)

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In 2004, Sen Robert Bennett (left) and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch participated in the state Republican convention in Sandy, Utah. Disgruntled conservatives planted the seeds for Mr. Bennett's 2010 defeat, and now some of them hope to replicate their success against Mr. Hatch. (Associated Press)

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Dan Liljenquist, who is challenging six-term Sen. Orrin G. Hatch in Utah's Republican primary. (Associated Press)

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Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, sponsor of one of two rival balanced-budget amendment measures, called the proposal a historic opportunity to lower the nation's $15 trillion debt. (Associated Press)

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Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Utah Republican, will run for a third term in the House of Representatives rather than challenge Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, who has held the seat for 36 years. Mr. Chaffetz enjoyed significant backing from the tea party. (Associated Press)

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Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, said of a new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services report, "Simply put, this report states the obvious, that Americans have known for more than a year - the $2.6 trillion law only makes the fundamental problem of skyrocketing health care costs worse." (Associated Press)

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**FILE** Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (right), Kentucky Republican, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 29, 2011, as Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, looks on. (Associated Press)

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Sen. Orrin G. Hatch says lawmakers should end special individual and corporate tax breaks but not to put money back into the federal government. (Associated Press)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat (right) and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, listen to ranking Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, speak Tuesday. Mr. Sessions requested the vote on Elena Kagan to be delayed a week.

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Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat, right, and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, center, listen as the committee's ranking Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama speaks during a business meeting of the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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In this April 16, 2010, file photo Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, listens on Capitol Hill in Washington. On Friday, July 2, Mr. Hatch said he will vote against the confirmation of President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

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Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican

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Sen. Jesse Helms, North Carolina Republican (left), who took delight in being called "Senator No" for opposing liberal legislation, was joined by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, at an anti-Equal Rights Amendment dinner in March 1979 in Washington. (Associated Press/File)