Chaffetz a “Definite Maybe” to Run Against Sen. Hatch

Congressman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, says it's time for a change in Utah, but he's still not sure if he's running for Senator Orrin Hatch's seat.

"We appreciate the service that senator Hatch has given in the United State senate, but 42 continuous years in the senate, living in that bubble, that's a bit too much," said Chaffetz during an interview with Fox News on Saturday. "I really do believe we need clean, new, fresh ideas," added Chaffetz.

As an example, Chaffetz points to Hatch's record on debt ceiling vote, saying Hatch has "voted or allowed through unanimous consent" an increase in the debt ceiling 26 times.

A recent Deseret News/KSL-TV out of Utah shows Chaffetz fairing well against Hatch in a potential senate contest. The poll of 406 likely Utah voters puts Chaffetz one point ahead of Hatch.

But, Senator Hatch is not going down without a fight.

On Tuesday, Hatch's campaign claimed Congressman Chaffetz had skipped out on a meeting of Utah House and Senate members for a TV appearances. In response the campaign said Chaffetz's actions were , "the most arrogant abrogation of responsibility I have seen from an elected official. He needs to understand that his responsibility is to the voters of Utah and to the people of Utah, not to see how many times he can get his pretty face on television."

Congressman Chaffetz isn't the only one going after the six-term senator. Dick Armey's group Freedomworks has already launched a 'Retire Orrin Hatch' campaign.

As for Chaffetz's decision, he says it will happen sometime around "football season."