Hatch: Chaffetz is a Publicity Hound

The Hill reports:

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) took a shot at a likely primary foe, accusing Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) on Tuedsay night of being exceedingly interested in publicity.

Hatch, who's been girding himself for a primary challenge to his right as he seeks renomination to run for another term in 2012, said he thought Chaffetz could be a "halfway decent congressman" if he just focused on the job.

"Well, he’s been running since the day he got elected to Congress," Hatch said of Chaffetz during an appearance on the Hugh Hewitt radio show. "I mean, you know, he just, I don’t know. I think he enjoys getting the publicity that happens."

Chaffetz, a second-term Republican lawmaker who won office after successfully beating a GOP incumbent in a primary, has made serious rumblings about challenging Hatch. He's embarked on a media campaign during this week's House recess in which Chaffetz has said he's leaning toward running.

Hatch has sought to steel himself for the eventual challenge by staking out more rightward positions, and taking the lead on some major conservative initiatives, such as the balanced-budget amendment sought by his Utah colleague, Sen. Mike Lee (R).