Utah: Announcement Forthcoming

Reports from the Beehive State indicate that former Republican presidential nominee and ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will announce his US Senate candidacy next week.  Mr. Romney will be entering the race to replace retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch (R).  Interestingly, it is believed that the presumed Senatorial candidate will bypass the Republican nominating convention and petition his way onto the primary ballot.  With no major Republican expected to challenge Mr. Romney, this open seat race will likely be clinched the day he officially becomes a candidate. 
 
The petition move makes sense.  Romney is assured of attracting enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, and he would avoid even the potential of hitting a bump in the road at the partisan nominating convention dominated by delegates who are even more conservative than he.  Assuming the reports are true, this is one open seat race the Republican leadership will not have to fret about keeping.

--Jim Ellis