Rep. Jason Chaffetz may challenge fellow Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch in 2012

SALT LAKE CITY — Even before the political corpse of ousted Sen. Bob Bennett has cooled, Rep. Jason Chaffetz says he may run against Sen. Orrin Hatch in two years and try to convince conservative Republicans to dump Hatch, too.

Chaffetz may have launched the 2012 race early by telling Fox News on Tuesday that he is considering a run for Hatch's seat. "This anti-incumbent sentiment is a tsunami that isn't going away," he said. "I respect everything that Sen. Hatch has done, but the question is whether 36 years in the U.S. Senate might be enough. Orrin will be 78 in 2012."

Chaffetz later told the Deseret News, "I'm not taking anything off the table. Undoubtedly, 2012 will be a fascinating political year, but I'd like to get through 2010 first."

He added, "We're not going to take anything for granted in November. We're working hard. … But I'm not willing to close up the possibilities of what 2012 might hold."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700031483/Chaffetz-may-challenge-Hatch.html

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