Orrin Hatch reportedly won?t be challenged in a Senate primary by Rep. Chaffetz (The Ticket)

Chaffetz (Jim Urquhart/AP)

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, will reportedly announce today that he has decided not to run for the Senate, ending speculation about what was shaping up to be one of 2012's biggest primary battles.

Chaffetz has scheduled press conference at 4 p.m. MDT today to announce his decision. Anonymous sources tell the?the Salt Lake Tribune and other news outlets that the tea party star will not challenge fellow Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch next year.

Hatch has become a major target of the tea party, who view his record as too moderate and are mobilizing to see Hatch defeated in a Republican primary in 2012. But many Republicans have come to Hatch's defense in recent weeks. Sarah Palin stuck up for the incumbent during an interview with Fox News, telling the tea party to leave Hatch alone and support his efforts to pass a balanced budget amendment in Congress.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110822/el_yblog_theticket/orrin-hatch-reportedly-wont-be-challenged-in-a-senate-primary-by-rep-chaffetz

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