Orrin Hatch can’t quite haul the votes, will face primary challenge

Hatch got 59% to Liljenquist’s 41%. Fell short of 60% needed to avoid primary.#UTSEN

— davecatanese (@davecatanese) April 21, 2012

Orrin Hatch will now face Dan Liljenquist in a June 26 Utah Republican primary.

— Matt K. Lewis (@mattklewis) April 21, 2012

Regarding a story we touched on earlier – Orrin Hatch will indeed face a primary, after failing to top the precious 60% mark at the Utah Republican convention needed to secure the nomination – and missing it by an agonizingly slim margin.