SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Over the weekend Orrin Hatch's Democratic opponent said the 78-year-old U.S. Senator is too old to be re-elected. Tuesday the Senator talked to ABC4 about the age accusations.
The accusations from Scott Howell are pretty bold. He said 78-year-old Orrin Hatch is simply too old to remain Utah's senator.
Howell said, "Orrin Hatch is old enough to be my father and I don't want my father running the United States Senate Finance Committee."
This all came from a fundraising email from the weekend. Howell wrote Orrin Hatch is an "old guy."
It doesn't end there, the most explosive part of the letter may be when Howell wrote that Hatch could "die before his term is through."
Howell said, "Orrin Hatch needs the golden handshake now. It's time we give him a nice watch and we send him on his way."
Monday Senator Hatch's team responded. His campaign manager Dave Hansen told ABC4's Chris Vanocur the comments are, "Offensive."
Hansen said Howell's age attacks are simply a misguided attempt to get attention.
Tuesday, Senator Hatch was working the Romney campaign trail and answered questions about Howell's comments.
Senator Hatch said, "I am used to him saying things, I don't pay attention to him. I don't think people appreciate those kind of remarks."
The Senator speaking about Howell continued, "He's a nice man, but he is doing whatever he can to get publicity."
