HMM – AT 12:28 P.M. ET:   Is there political scheming afoot?  Could it affect the 2020 presidential election?  From the Washington Examiner: 

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch said he would be open to step aside and not run for re-election in 2018 if a candidate like Mitt Romney were to run for his position in his stead.

In an interview with National Journal, the Republican senator who has been in office since 1976 said he "might very well consider" not campaigning for another term if an "outstanding person" were to run for his position.

Asked if he had any people in mind, Hatch replied: "Well, Mitt Romney would be perfect." He added that he has reached out to Romney about the idea.

In February, Romney declined to rule out a run for a Senate seat in the future.

COMMENT:  A seat in the Senate would be the perfect perch from which Romney could run again for president.  In 2020 he'd be 73, which is fine, given today's age spans. 

That, of course, would depend on Trump, and whether he'll run again, or even want to.  And it might also depend on Mike Pence's status.

At least the GOP has a good bench of potential presidents.  The Dems have Elizabeth Warren and...Hillary?

March 29, 2017