Sen. Orrin Hatch handily won renomination in the Republican primary Tuesday night and is now heavily favored to win re-election to a seventh term, which he has said would be his last. After entering the 2012 cycle as one of the Senate's most endangered incumbents, the 78-year-old lawmaker survived a challenge from Dan Liljenquist, an underfunded former state Senator whose candidacy was ultimately undone by Hatch's strong campaign and a lack of angst over the Senator's voting record and length of service. Hatch led 69 percent to 31 percent, with 13 percent of precincts reporting. The Associated Press called the race just after 11 p.m. Eastern time. (more…)
