This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
WASHINGTON - Sen. Orrin Hatch will serve as the No. 2 leader at the National Republican Senatorial Committee through the general election, though he says he has no interest in taking over the organization for the next cycle.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., tapped Hatch as his vice president of the committee, which raises money for and supports GOP incumbents and Senate nominees. The job will last only through November, Ensign said.
Hatch, a Utah Republican, helped raise millions for the committee's recent President's Dinner.
"With the help of my colleagues, we were able to surpass our fundraising goals - and that in a year that most believe will be difficult for Republicans. I, for one, don't buy into that," Hatch said in a statement.
Hatch recently warned that a "Democratic tsunami" could hit this fall, but backed off those comments after the fundraising total of $13.5 million for the dinner was announced.
- Thomas Burr
