Remember former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney? The 2012 Republican presidential nominee Romney? “Binders full of women” Romney? The “47 percent of Americans pay no income tax” Romney? He was quite a vociferous critic of Donald Trump during campaign season, then tried playing nicely after Trump got elected, expecting to be nominated for Secretary of State.

Then there was that photo of him with Trump having dinner at Jean Georges in New York the night the President-elect told Romney to get lost. The look of humiliation on Romney’s face is almost too painful to see.

Meme By Adam Murray Via Political Humor.

Well, he’s back.

Utah Republicans are trying to convince Sen. Orrin Hatch (R), 83, to retire so Mitt Romney can run for his Senate seat.

According to The Atlantic:

“Mitt Romney, the one-time presidential nominee and leading Trump critic, is exploring a run for Hatch’s Senate seat. According to six sources familiar with the situation, Romney has spent recent weeks actively discussing a potential 2018 Senate bid with a range of high-level Republicans in both Utah and Washington, and has privately signaled a growing interest in the idea. Romney, though, has made clear he would not pursue the seat without Hatch’s blessing.”

Romney is being hailed as ideal for Hatch’s seat because of his apparent distaste for President Trump, and he would be representing Utah, a state equally not thrilled with the president. He is recognized as more moderate than many members of the Republican caucus, and would likely be expected to be a frequent thorn in the president’s side.

Sen. Hatch has served in the Senate for over four decades. During an interview with National Journal’s Alex Rogers, he said:

“If I could get a really outstanding person to run for my position, I might very well consider [retiring]. Mitt Romney would be perfect.”

Romney has apparently discussed the matter with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and party leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). According to two people with knowledge of the conversation, McConnell encouraged Romney to run if Hatch’s seat vacates. He also assured Romney he would have more influence in the chamber than a typical junior senator.

This would be Mitt Romney’s first stint in Congress. He first ran for the late Ted Kennedy’s (D) Massachusetts Senate seat in 1994, but lost to the incumbent. From 2003 to 2007, he served as governor of Massachusetts before vying for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, which he lost to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

In 2012, he secured the Republican nomination against incumbent president Barack Obama. He is eligible for the Utah seat because he owns a house outside Salt Lake City.

Could Romney also be using a position in the Senate to mount a potential 2020 primary challenge against Trump?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

 

Featured Image: Screenshot Via Facebook.