Hatch now confident he’ll survive GOP convention

Politics » Incumbent’s campaign says support may be enough to avoid primary; Challenger Liljenquist says Hatch campaign premature in touting big win.

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"No doubt. He dominated," Wimmer said. "He dominated at our caucus, our precinct [and based on] all the results I’m getting in and all the discussions I’m having."

The Herriman Republican said he is still contacting delegates, but based on conversations he has had so far, he feels good that his campaign also fared well in the delegate battles. While Wimmer has appealed to conservative Republicans and tea party-aligned voters, the delegate turnout and Hatch’s success doesn’t undermine his support.

"It doesn’t cut into my base at all," Wimmer said. "I have found that there are a lot of Hatch delegates who are also Carl Wimmer delegates. The Hatch-Wimmer delegates, they are not mutually exclusive."

David Kirkham, co-founder of the tea party and challenger to Gov. Gary Herbert, said that the focus on the Senate race meant the delegates he spoke to Friday were open to discussing their support in the governor’s race.

"The headline would have been Hatch and the footnote Herbert. That’s pleasing for our race," Kirkham said. "It leaves us a good opening."

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