But he isn't trying to protect his Senate seat; this time around the goal is to protect his clout and the clout of all Senate Republicans.

For his efforts, Hatch has been named the vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), charged with helping embattled incumbents win re-election in what is shaping up to be the worst year for Republicans in a generation.

"I was tired of seeing the lack of effort on the part of some in our Republican caucus," he said. "I just decided that I'm going to do everything I possibly can."

Hatch has personally raised more than $6.5 million for the NRSC this year through near-daily fundraising calls and he presided over the President's Dinner, a gala that raised an additional $13.5 million for Senate Republicans. He created "Orrin's Army," an elite donor group whose money is helping to fund hundreds of TV ads that will run through Election Day. And he has done a barrage of television interviews to promote Senate Republicans.

Hatch said he isn't trying to earn a place in Republican leadership, rather his efforts are focused on protecting what he calls "the firewall."

In the Senate it takes 60 votes to end debate on a bill and move on to final passage. The filibuster, as it is called, is one of the minority party's most potent weapons to hold up objectionable legislation.

"If we don't have the right to utilize that filibuster rule and force the Democrats to have to get 60 votes, you're going to get some of the worst legislation in the history of the country," Hatch said on Fox News last week.

In interview after interview, Hatch warns of a Democratic agenda of "big spending, big taxes, less national security" with little Republicans can do to block it.

Hatch isn't the only one evoking this "firewall" theme, trying to paint a Democratic-controlled government as downright frightening.

One NRSC ad running in North Carolina, where incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole is in a tough race with Democrat Kay Hagan, includes this line: "These liberals want complete control of government in a time of crisis - all branches of government. If she wins, they get a blank check."

Even Republican presidential candidate John McCain has warned of a blank check if Democrats not only win the White House but get a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Democrats, led by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, are touting an agenda of economic change, saying that Republicans have had their chance at leading the nation.

This year has been disastrous for Republicans, with President Bush's approval ratings near historic lows, widespread discontent with the direction of the country and an economic crisis that continues to expand.

With almost every poll, the outlook worsens for Senate Republicans. No Democratic incumbent is in a seriously tight race, but 11 seats once held by Republicans are threatened.

The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan, highly watched election analysis, says Democrats are likely to pick up one seat in Virginia, where polls show the Democrat with a 30-percentage-point lead. Three other seats are leaning Democratic, including the seat now held by Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, who was convicted this week of seven counts of felony corruption for lying on campaign disclosure forms. And six other races are toss-ups. That analysis doesn't even count the race in Kentucky where Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has seen his lead in the polls diminish rapidly.

Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of The Cook Political Report, predicts Democrats will win between seven and nine of these races, which would give them a total of 58 to 60 seats, as long as two independents, including McCain supporter Joseph Lieberman, continue caucusing with the Democrats.

Hatch said he "doesn't get discouraged" with predictions such as these. "I get upset that more people can't recognize the Republican firewall in the Senate is what stops terrible legislation."

NRSC Chairman John Ensign, a senator from Nevada, has recognized Hatch's efforts.

"He has been single-minded in preventing Democrats from hitting 60 seats," he said. "If we achieve that goal, it will be in large part thanks to Senator Hatch and his contributions."

mcanham@sltrib.com