Utah Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, announced Wednesday he is entering the U.S. Senate race, claiming Hatch fails to adequately help residents.

"Though specific issues are open to different interpretations and judgments, service to constituents is not. Either it gets done or it doesn't," Urquhart said on his campaign Web site. "Currently, it doesn't."

Hatch and Urquhart will face off in May at the state Republican convention. If neither candidate gets the support of 60 percent of the delegates, a primary will determine the Republican nominee.

Urquhart, a lawyer who has served in the state House since 2001, is known for his technology legislation and for being the first state lawmaker to consistently use a Web log - or blog - to communicate with the public. Urquhart, who is now the House Majority Whip, has also weighed heavily in efforts to keep hotter radioactive waste out of Utah, actively lobbied to get Utah out of President Bush's No Child Left Behind education plan and fought to make it easier for the public to navigate small claims courts.

"A big part of why I am running is to make the government more user-friendly," Urquhart said in a brief interview Wednesday.

Hatch's campaign manager Dave Hansen said he fully expected a challenge from within the Republican Party, but that Hatch, one of the most influential senators, "is going to prevail."

A Valley Research poll conducted for The Salt Lake Tribune in June showed that 42 percent of 400 respondents would support Hatch's re-election bid. Nearly 17 percent would favor another Republican and 20 percent said they would vote for a Democrat. The survey had a margin of error of 5 percent.

Hansen attempted to downplay Urquhart as a threat to the prominent senator and defended Hatch's Utah credentials.

"He is a Washington insider," Hansen acknowledged. "Does that mean he has lost touch with Utah? Absolutely not."

Urquhart has the support of many of his fellow state lawmakers including House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander, who said Wednesday: "He would bring a fresh look at issues and especially at issues that really relate to the state of Utah."

Still, Sen. Parley Hellewell, R-Orem, warned of the tough battle Urquhart faces.

"It's always a task to run against an incumbent," he said. "Rep. Urquhart won't be known outside the St. George area."

Hellewell also offered Urquhart some advice: "Raise a lot of money. They say that money is the mother's milk of politics - and it is, sad to say."

Hansen touted Hatch's $1.7 million war chest, the most Hatch has ever had at one time. In the past three months alone, Hatch has raised $843,540.

Urquhart said Hatch's riches don't faze him.

"I'm not the least bit worried," he said. "Because I have ideas. It's time for change. I would rather have people than money any day and people are going to come."

The last Republican to challenge Hatch says Urquhart has no chance.

"It is an impossible dream this election cycle," said Greg Hawkins. "It is too late in the game to be starting."

Hawkins, an attorney, was unknown in political circles when he tried to unseat Hatch in 2000. During a raucous convention in which delegates booed Hatch and then-Gov. Mike Leavitt, Hawkins fell just 54 votes shy of forcing a primary.

Hawkins said by this time in the race, he had 130 volunteers organized in 27 counties and Hatch was distracted by a brief attempt at a presidential run. He expects Hatch to be more focused now.

"You can't blindside him this time," he said. "It is just not going to happen."

Urquhart is hoping to get many more volunteers. On his campaign Web site, http://www.steveu.com, he called for 3,000 people to help him by the end of November to help get delegates selected at neighborhood caucuses next March.

The state convention will take place May 20.

mcanham@sltrib.com

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Tribune reporter Rebecca Walsh contributed to this story.