Mitt Romney Dusts Off Binders Full Of Women, Considers Senate Run

In late March, 83-year-old incumbent Senator Orrin Hatch mulled over the idea of hanging up his hat, and letting someone else take a crack at the whole Senator business.

Specifically, Hatch told the National Journal, he’d be willing to forego a run if “a really outstanding person” stepped up to the plate — someone like former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

The comment reportedly took Romney by surprise, and sent the media into a speculative frenzy.

According to an interview with The Atlantic, though Hatch holds Romney in high regard, no decisions are being made just yet. Hatch recently told KUTV reporter Rod Decker that he plans to pursue an eighth term, but things could change.

Romney has not commented on the possibility of a Senate run since February, when he told Deseret News it wasn’t out of the question.

Adding fuel to the speculative fire, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly reached out to Romney about the possibility of running.

“I’ve had some conversations with Mitt Romney,” McConnell told the Associated Press, “Obviously, I’m an Orrin Hatch supporter. Orrin has to decide what he wants to do. If he wants to run again, I’m for him.”

According to an article published by The Atlantic, Romney has spent recent weeks in talks with different high-level Republicans discussing the 2018 Senate bid. Sources suggest Romney has a growing interest in the race, but would not pursue the seat without Hatch’s blessing.

In Romney’s conversation with McConnell, Romney was reportedly encouraged to run if Hatch’s seat opened up, and was assured that his influence would be greater than your typical junior senator.

“It would be the easiest Senate bid in the history of the United States of America,” Deseret News opinion editor, Hal Boyd, told The Atlantic.

Among those who have expressed interest in the Senate seat are Congressman Jason Chaffetz and former Utah Governor John Huntsman.

“I don’t have any predictions on what I might do. I’m not going to open a door and I’m not going to close a door. All doors are open,” Romney told the Deseret News, after promising that the 2018 Senate race is “going to be interesting.”

Meanwhile, Romney is making appearances in France and dusting off his binders full of women.