 Last weekend, Republican convention delegates narrowed the field of candidates for the U.S. Senate race to two: Dan Liljenquist and Orrin Hatch. This is the first time in 36 years that Hatch has faced a primary opponent. In a press release today Liljenquist challenged Hatch to a series of debates throughout the state. The recommended venues were eight different colleges and universities throughout the state: Brigham Young University, Dixie College, College of Eastern Utah, Salt Lake City Community College, Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Weber State University and Utah State University. “I want to bring the debate to the doorstep of the next generation,” says Liljenquist, ‘because that’s what this is all about – who can lead Utah into the future.” When asked whether he would be participating in any debates, Senator Hatch said, "we're not going to get into that today." If you want to see Orrin Hatch debate Dan Liljenquist, call Hatch campaign headquarters at 801-797-8200 and ask Orrin to agree to participate. The Republican Women of Utah Valley hosted a debate on April 4 between Republican Senate candidates Orrin Hatch, Dan Liljenquist, and Chris Herrod. Below are questions from the debate split into separate video clips. Opening statements Question 1: What is your position on American space weaponization and what benefits could it have? Question 2: What do you see as the greatest problem facing our nation? And how are you uniquely qualified to solve that problem Further rebuttal to question 2: Senator Hatch has increased spending as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, what's going to change if he's chairman? Question 3: Explain the Keystone Pipeline Project and your plan for Utah to develop our own natural resources. Question 4: Explain Common Core and whether you believe it will be beneficial or detrimental to individual states. Question 5: What is the role of the federal government and what will you do specifically to reverse the trend towards Washington DC becoming overly involved in our lives as American citizens? Question 6, directed to Hatch: You've voted for many bills that have expanded government. How can we trust that you are the person to provide conservative, fiscal leadership? Question 7, directed to Herrod: What would you do to solve our immigration problem? Question 8, directed to Liljenquist: Can you address why you missed a quarter of the votes while serving in the Utah Senate? Question 9: What is your favorite part of the Republican Party platform, and why? Question 10: Is there a difference between leadership and seniority? If so, how would you describe that difference? Question 11: What legislative accomplishment in your last term will help you in your role as a Senator to promote individual and state autonomy? Question 12: What can you do to make sure Hill AFB stays open? Further rebuttal to question 12 Question 13: How would you work with the Utah Legislature to further the cause of states' rights? Closing statements Many people ask, "Who is running against Orrin Hatch?". Here is a series of 15 videos introducing someone running for U.S. Senate in Utah. His name is Dan Liljenquist. Glenn Beck praises Mike Lee, Dan Liljenquist 03/14/2012
Glenn Beck and Pat Gray praise Mike Lee for his work as Utah's junior Senator and then mention Dan Liljenquist as a good alternative to Orrin Hatch. Listen to the 3 minute clip below: 
And here's some bonus audio. On Rod Arquette's show yesterday, he took some calls from people wanting to comment on Orrin Hatch saying he wouldn't run again in 2018. It was a brutal few minutes for the 36 years Senator.
 In a 1995 op-ed in USA Today, Senator Orrin Hatch argued against term limits and mentioned that he running for re-election in 2012 was "not on the list". Kudos to David Hogberg of IBD for digging this up. "I have strong reservations about a constitutional amendment on term limits. Let me at the outset emphasize two points. First, I have no personal interest in the prospects of the amendment. Even were it to become part of the Constitution tomorrow, it would not bar me from running for re-election until the year 2012, when I would be 78 years of age. There are many things I hope to be doing in the year 2012. Spending time with my great-grandchildren at that time would be higher on my list than spending time with Senate colleagues, esteemed though they are. Running for re-election is not on the list." -Orrin G. Hatch (emphasis added) Here is a pdf of the USA Today piece written by Senator Hatch. Print it and bring it to caucus with you! 
www.BringHatchHome.com, “Words” Web Video Questions What Senator Hatch’s Leadership Has Gotten Us In 36 Years (Salt Lake City, UT) – Conservative Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Liljenquist today launched a new microsite and web video highlighting decades of rhetoric from 36-year incumbent Senator Orrin Hatch. The microsite, www.BringHatchHome.com, and the web video, “Words,” hold Senator Hatch’s feet to the fire for failed campaign promises, begging the question, “what has Senator Hatch’s leadership gotten us after 36 years?” The web video ends with a haunting 1976 campaign audio clip from Hatch stressing, “We must have a change.” “In 1976, Senator Orrin Hatch railed against an eighteen-year incumbent for contributing to the country’s then-national debt of $600 billion, and for aiding in our country’s slide toward bankruptcy,” noted Liljenquist. “Now, after thirty-six years in Washington, including 18 years on the finance committee, Senator Hatch has played a significant role in adding to our country’s $15 trillion debt, increasing the size and scope of government and has quite simply run out of ideas. It’s time to bring Senator Hatch home.” Below please find a transcript of Dan Liljenquist’s new web video, “Words.” For more information on Dan Liljenquist’s campaign to bring real conservative change to the U.S. Senate, please visit: http://www.danforutah.com/. 
Yesterday on his radio program, Glenn Beck talked about Congressional candidate Chris Stewart and 36 year incumbent Senator Orrin Hatch, (both are Republicans from Utah). Beck said, when talking about politicians going to Washington, "before long you end up like Orrin Hatch." Here's the audio clip: This isn't the first time Beck has said it's time for Hatch to go. In 2009 he had this to say about Utah's senior Senator: 2012 Utah Republican candidates poll 02/27/2012
Last October, I conducted a poll on this blog of potential candidates for various offices. Now that we know which candidates have filed and since Republican caucus meetings are only two weeks away, I'm doing another round of polls. Each poll allows only one vote per IP address. Be sure to share the poll with your friends and campaign allies! (This poll is obviously not scientific, but it will show which candidates have the most enthusiastic online supporters) Update: The final results are below: U.S. Senate 1684 total votes Tim Aalders - 554 Dan Liljenquist - 504 Orrin Hatch - 313 Chris Herrod - 261 Jeremy Friedbaum - 28 Loy Brunson - 13 Dale Ash - 6 Kevin Fisk - 5 Governor 1045 total votes Morgan Philpot - 431 Gary Herbert - 338 Ken Sumsion - 153 David Kirkham - 123 Attorney General 803 total votes Sean Reyes - 439 John Swallow - 364 1st Congressional District 835 total votes Jacqueline Smith - 471 Rob Bishop - 331 Leonard Fabiano - 17 Bryan Smith Farnsworth - 16 2nd Congressional District 1699 total votes Howard Wallack - 768 Chris Stewart - 418 Cherilyn Eagar - 179 Chuck Williams - 163 David Clark - 77 Jason Buck - 48 John Willoughby - 25 Jeramey McElhaney - 16 Bob Fuehr - 5 3rd Congressional District 467 total votes Jason Chaffetz - 374 Kurt Bradburn - 93 4th Congressional District 878 total votes Carl Wimmer - 396 Mia Love - 319 Jay Cobb - 93 Stephen Sandstrom - 64 Kenneth Gray - 6 How to get involved in Utah politics 02/26/2012
One of the best ways to make a difference in Utah politics is to become a delegate in Utah's caucus/convention system. This infograph gives you a brief introduction to how to become a delegate.  Resources Caucus info Caucus system introduction video Caucus system slideshow Caucus Rules Caucus FAQ Caucus locations Utah GOP caucus location search tool Salt Lake County Utah County Davis County Washington County Register to vote vote.utah.gov Maps Salt Lake County Utah County Davis County Weber County Washington County Cache County Precinct lists Republican Party websites by county (contact your county party to obtain lists of previous caucus attendees Candidates List of candidates Convention Dates Washington County - April 7 - 9am at the Gardner Center on the campus of Dixie State College Cache County - April 11 - Time and location TBA Weber County - April 12 - Time and location TBA Davis County - April 13 - Time and location TBA Salt Lake County - April 14 - Time? - Salt Palace Convention Center Utah County - April 14 - Time and location TBA State Convention - April 21 - Time? - South Towne Expo Center in Sandy Dan Liljenquist put a stop to double-dipping 02/16/2012
U.S. Senate candidate Dan Liljenquist is well known for the groundbreaking pension reforms (SB63) he passed in the Utah Legislature in 2010. Many people, however, are not aware of his bill (SB43) to end "double-dipping" among state employees. This bill will save Utah taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Below is a portion of an infographic that explains these reforms:  To view the full infographic (which explains Liljenquist's pension reforms) click here. | Stay updated via email
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