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SALT LAKE CITY — It is a rare quiet moment for Sen. Orrin Hatch, traveling between campaign events and catching up on reading. First, it's Senate business with Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming. On the way, a request to appear on Karl Malone's ESPN radio show, to which he responded, "Let's do it. Karl is a great old friend."
Then, at an event, it's "game on." Orrin Hatch is keeping a full schedule and flying through it at a brisk pace. At 78, he admits his age might be a factor for some voters. But he turns that into a positive, saying his experience has value.
"Well, let me put it this way: Seniority and experience," he said. "That's what it comes down to. Some of our people in the far right don't believe that seniority is important, well unfortunately that's the rule back there."
He's been a US Senator for 36 years, and he's asking for one more term in office. Senator Orrin Hatch has been preparing for this election for years because this is the first primary he's had to face since he was first elected in 1976.
Hatch has been raising money for the 2012 race - since 2006. He's brought in more than $10.5 million, including nearly $4 million in PAC money. That means he's raised and spent more than ten times the amount of his opponent Dan Liljenquist.
By comparison, Liljenquist has brought in about $835,000, including $400,000 of his own money.
As he leaves the campaign event, one man comments to that it's time for Hatch to go home. But when asked about that sentiment among voters, Hatch is ready. He says his possible chairmanship of the powerful Senate Finance committee is a big deal. So is influence over keeping Hill Air Force Base open.
"Because I've been there, because I have the experience, because I have the respect, the leaders of the Air Force will meet with me whenever I ask them to," he said.
Wildlife issues as well as concerns of ranchers and sportsmen are on the agenda here. But overall, Hatch is running on helping repeal the Affordable Care Act and repairing the economy. It's how he keeps working to appeal to the tea party, an effort he started on early.
"I started to relate to the tea party people," he said. "I invited the top people in to see me."
Hatch also considers himself a listener. He says he recognizes bi-partisanship. "In order to pass legislation, you're going to have to have a few democrats with you so you can't just say no to everything, otherwise you're not representing your state," he said.
